Chapter Four

"Our mother always made us come in as soon as the sun went down," Cas started out. "It was a standard rule at our house."

Dean nodded his head both to show he was listening and that he agreed with the practice. Strigoi couldn't walk in the sunlight and did most of their damage at night. It was smart to keep your kids inside after dark.

"But this night she and my father had company over. Friends from work or something. Jack and I were bored so we snuck outside to play…and we didn't come in when night fell," Cas said, his voice catching in his throat. "Our parents were too caught up in their conversation to notice. Not that I blame them or anything. I was the older brother and I should have made him go inside."

Dean found himself inching a little closer to Cas. He sensed this story didn't have a happy ending.

"They grabbed Jack before I even had a chance to scream. Snapped his neck…like he was nothing," Cas whispered. "There were four of them. Chalky white skins…red rimmed eyes. And just…vacant. No emotion. No expression. Just that thirst for blood…and more blood."

Dean swallowed hard. As tough as he acted he had never been face to face with the undead. He couldn't believe someone so young had experienced something so horrible.

"I ran right for Jack. He was just lying there. I thought for sure if I could get him inside he'd be okay. He just needed to be away from those…creatures. I could fix it. " Cas said. He stared at a spot on the wall behind Dean's head. It was like he wasn't even there with him right now. "My parents noticed shadows outside and sent their guardians out to see what was going on. They found me right before…" he paused and swallowed. "One of them had his hands around my neck. I didn't even realize he had gotten so close. I was too busy focusing on Jack."

Dean had no idea what he would do if he lost Sam…and in such a brutal way. No wonder Cas had had such a strong reaction to the fake attack. It must have felt like that night all over again. Like he was losing Jack all over again.

"I was pretty out of it for a long time. I didn't want to eat…I couldn't sleep. After that night my parents didn't let me out of the house. I was surrounded by guardians round the clock," Cas explained to him. "Well, guardians and shrinks."

"That's why you never came to St. Vladimir's," Dean said, finally breaking his silence, connecting more dots about the Moroi.

Cas nodded his head yes. He seemed to be back in the present, holding Dean's gaze now. "I'm only here now because my parents are away on business for six months and they figured I'd be safer here than at home," he said to him. He rubbed his face. "Um, please don't tell anyone about all this…I mean, not that I think you would…I just don't want people to know all this stuff…" he rambled.

"Oh, yeah, sure…I won't tell…Cas, I'm so sorry," Dean said sincerely. "I have a younger brother too and…I'm sorry." What could you really say to that?

"Thanks…thank you," Cas said. He took a deep breath. "We should probably get out from under here."

Dean peeked out and around the corner and then ducked back under their cement cocoon. "No one's looking for us yet. We can stay here a little while longer," he assured him. He noticed how close he was sitting to Cas and shifted back just a touch. Thankfully the Moroi didn't seem to notice.

Cas nodded his head and closed his eyes for a moment, taking in a few deep breaths to collect himself. "Do you know what I've always wanted to do?" he asked, blinking his eyes open and focusing on Dean.

"What's that?" Dean asked him curiously. His own thoughts automatically went towards revenge. Bloody, violent revenge.

"I want to learn how to use my magic to fight," Cas revealed. All Moroi possessed magic founded in earth, air, water, fire, or spirit. This magic was to be used for good, though many Moroi expressed an interest in using it to fight alongside their guardians. Dean did not agree with that sentiment.

"That's a little unorthodox," Dean said slowly. He didn't want to express how he really felt and upset Cas even more.

Cas' shoulders deflated a little bit. "You sound like everyone else in my life," he mumbled. "They all say that's what guardians are for…but what happens if your guardian gets killed trying to protect you? I want to be able to protect myself…if I could have done something to save Jack…"

"You were a child," Dean interrupted him.

"But now I'm an adult," Cas insisted.

Dean wanted to point out how it went against the natural order for Moroi to use their magic to fight. It had always been the guardian's role to serve and protect. But the look in his eyes tugged at his heartstrings. He sighed. "Your element is fire, right?" he asked, through he knew he was right because he saw it in his packet.

Cas nodded his head yes in reply. "That's correct," he said. He snapped his fingers, causing a little spark to flicker from his fingertips.

"I could teach you how to…use it against an attacker," Dean said quickly so he wouldn't have a chance to stop himself.

"Do you mean that?" Cas asked him warily.

Dean couldn't blame him for being cautious after the comments he had just made. "I never want you to feel helpless again," he said sincerely.

"Dean? Cas?" Guardian Belikov called out.

"We're okay," Dean called back to him. He offered Cas a hand and helped him up to his feet before they emerged from the hiding spot.

The corners of Cas' lips curved up into a smile. "Thanks, Dean," he said.

Dean couldn't help but smile back. "Sure," he replied.