Chapter 6

Castiel could not believe he had been so blind. His Father had expressed no disappointment, but Castiel was still sure he should have remained focused on the bigger picture, and not on the blossoming love story before him.

His Father had quietened his worries, and although Castiel was not feeling confident, he knew that they would be watched over. The Lord had not seemed concerned by the developing events, and remained hopeful that his creations would figure things out on their own. Dean Winchester would again be tested, and this was heart-rending to Castiel. Had the boy not been through enough?

Metatron, or Baal, was a fallen angel. After ruling under Lucifer as Baal in Hell, he manipulated his way back into Heaven. He eventually gained control of Heaven, though the Lord had not yet explained how this was possible, and spent hundreds of years toying with the lives of others. Having grown bored of manipulating the angels, Metatron's sights turned on Hell. He believed that the demons would make for more interesting sport when pitted against the humans, and he began planning his upheaval of Lucifer. Metatron instigated the apocalypse, believing it to be his only chance to ensure that Lucifer could rule Hell no more.

Castiel was just glad that he now had a direct link with his Father. Instead of just working on blind faith, his work with the Winchesters had ensured that he could gain council with the Lord if he should ever need it.

He journeyed back to the large motel room that they were staying in, but both of them appeared to be asleep.

For Dean's sake, he hoped that they could find the remaining pieces of his soul. He had yet to fuse the piece that still hung around his neck back to the elder Winchester.

A broken soul was said to be one of the most horrific experiences a person could endure. To have a broken soul and be conscious of it, meant that you were without the connection to the higher powers and the collective strength of the Heavens. It was to feel completely alone in the world; vulnerable. It saps you of all your strength.

When you are without a soul, you are without the conscience and insight necessary to really understand what this means…but a broken soul was to feel as though God had turned his back on you.

Castiel shivered.

He walked over to the bed that Dean was sleeping in. "Dean, wake up." The angel said gently, touching him on the shoulder.

Dean stirred and his eyes were suddenly open and alert for danger. "Cas."

"I have a piece of your soul to restore. I would like to do it now."

Dean sighed, but swung his legs out the side of the bed and sat up. He wiped his eyes and glanced at the clock. It was 4am, but Castiel did not see any point in putting this process off any longer. Castiel had not performed this task before, and he was a little nervous.

"Stand up."

Dean stood and walked to the middle of the room, grinding his teeth together.

Castiel narrowed his eyes and began.

Metatron laughed, wiping the blade of his knife with a handkerchief that he put back into his suit pocket. "You will have to tell me eventually. Apart from this little shred around my neck, there are two more pieces of Dean's soul. And you know where they are."

Lirael coughed, a little blood escaping and splashing upon her lips. "I swear to you, I do not know where they are." She clenched her fists and tried again in vain to fight against the metal restraints around her wrists.

Metatron could not help but let out a snort. "I am more powerful than your God. Do you really expect to escape from me?"

She bowed her head and licked her lips. "He escaped from you. He will come for me, and he will defeat you." Lirael said darkly, raising her eyes to him.

"Without Dean and Michael, he cannot. Which is why I need to ensure that Dean dies. And with you here, my sweet, delicious Lirael, that is sure to happen soon."

"He won't come for me, he doesn't even care for me. We barely speak except when I need to restore a piece of his soul." She said casually, shifting in her chair and trying to avoid his gaze.

"Hmm. Yes, and clearly you have no feelings for him either." Metatron ran his finger down the blade of the knife and walked behind her. Bending down, he put his mouth against her ear. "I only have to mention his name and your heart starts to pound against your chest."

The beat of her heart quickened. Metatron smiled and dipped his lips to her neck, letting his tongue slip out to taste her glistening skin. He liked her strength. With a few more decades he would have been able to persuade her to commit to his cause.

Metatron stood suddenly and cocked his head to once side for a few moments. Castiel had restored one of the last pieces. That left two shards and Dean would be restored, leaving him free to be a vessel once more. A growl erupted from his throat and he paced the room.

He took a deep, long breath as he thought about what to do next. Metatron stopped and looked at Lirael. Gripping the hilt of the knife, he drove it deep into Lirael's chest. With a grunt and a cruel smile he twisted it until she screamed for mercy.

"You will tell me, Lirael."

"No!" She shrieked, tears streaming down her blood-stained cheeks.

"No!" Dean screamed, sitting bolt up-right and writhing against the arms of Castiel that were holding him still. He couldn't remember how he had ended up on the wiry carpet of the motel room floor, but he knew that she needed him.

"Dean, it's ok." Castiel said soothingly, but Dean wasn't listening. He was listening to Lirael. She was in complete despair. Dean didn't think he could hurt more than he did right now, but hearing her call out for him…tears spilled from his eyes and he cried out in pain.

The door clicked open, and he was aware that Sam had entered the room. "Dean? Cas what's going on?" He could hear his brother's voice, but it sounded so far away.

All that mattered was that he needed to be close to her. It wasn't just that she was in pain now and calling for him, he needed to be near her and to touch her.

"He's hurting her again, but there's only two pieces left to restore, Sam. We have to stay focused. Metatron has one, but we need to find the other." As Castiel and Sam kept talking, Dean was trying to pull himself to his feet. Everything felt fuzzy and distant.

"But you've looked everywhere, I can't sense anything else and neither can you. Hey, wait, Dean, where are you going?"

He staggered towards the door, shaking off the hands that were trying to pull him back. Dean held back another cry and pushed forward. It felt like he was being ripped in two, maybe it was because he was so close to being whole again. Or maybe it was because of her…

Even if it meant dying, Dean was going to get to her.

To be continued….