Chapter 7: The Rise of the Devil

Night had fallen on the city and Gabriel and I were sitting on the steps outside the temple. I picked a piece of chocolate up from the tray of food by my feet and dropped the sugary delicacy into Gabriel's mouth. Just then, a sudden flap of wings was heard. Gabe and I both looked up, expecting to see Castiel finally join us, but it was Chief Michael instead.

"Lord Sam, I have good news!" Michael said, eyes beaming excitedly. "My men have finished your boat." My face fell instantly. Oh, the boat. I had completely forgotten.

"Are you sure?" I questioned. "Are you sure it has enough…rope?" Michael stared at me in confusion for a moment until he noticed my longing stare cast over the city.

"You are always welcome to stay instead," Michael offered. I stared up at him wide eyed.

"What? I could never? Dean and I…we're partners." Michael smiled at me, tilting his head to the side.

"Big plans in the other world, huh?" Michael asked. I nodded and Michael turned his back. "Well then I will tell the boys to add more rope –"

"Oh, Chief, forget about the rope. Uh…my mistake," I told him. Michael continued smiling as he stretched out his wings.

"To error is human," Michael whispered. I twirled around in surprise, but Michael was smiling at me. He gave a quick wink and vanished in a flutter of wings. I sat back down next to Gabriel, shaking my head.

"Looks like our acting wasn't that great after all," I sighed. Gabriel shrugged.

"Michael is smart. Anyway, I don't think he is too bothered by it, do you?" Gabriel questioned. I shook my head and once again grabbed another chocolate. When I turned to give it to Gabriel though the angel was staring sadly out over the city. "You want to stay don't you?" he asked. I dropped the chocolate and stared at my hands.

"Yes. This place is so beautiful and so are the people. It's nothing like Spain," I whispered. Gabriel continued looking out over the city, eyes sad.

"I love this place unlike any other. It is my home and always will be, but when Lucifer threatened the life of myself and my brother I couldn't risk us staying. Now, things have changed." Gabriel's eyes turned back to mine. "Lucifer's reign has ended." Sam smiled at Gabriel.

"Before I came here all I wanted was to make my brother proud. I wanted to make enough money to finally support us like my brother planned since the beginning. Now that I've seen this place though I feel safer than I ever have before and I…I don't want to go." Gabriel reached for my hand and squeezed it.

"Then don't." I stared into Gabriel's golden eyes for what felt like decades. I had always done what my brother and father wanted, but now it was my chance to choose my own path. Smile returning to my face, I handed Gabriel another chocolate.

"Then we better tell Chief not to rent out our temple then."

Dean watched me and Gabriel from the side lines, slightly angry and upset by his brother's decision. We had all the gold we could ever wish for and now I was just throwing it all away. Dean shook himself. 'Well, if Sam wants to stick around this place with Gabe then so be it.' He and Cas would go back then. Maybe travel the world. Spain was over rated. Then a thought hit him.

"Sammy?" Dean called. Sam and Gabe walked into the temple, frowning.

"What's wrong, Dean?" Sam questioned. Dean glanced around himself, worry in his eyes.

"Where's Cas?"

Meanwhile, in Lucifer's lair Lucifer and his private guard Crowley stood around a smoking red fire. Castiel was sprawled out along the floor, still out cold from the poison he breathed in.

"Is it ready yet?" Lucifer asked as Crowley finished drawing strange symbols on the wall with blood. Crowley stepped back, allowing Lucifer to take a look for himself. Lucifer looked at his book of dark magic and then at the markings on the wall. Everything was ready, now they just needed the finishing touch. "Prepare him," Lucifer hissed, nodding his head towards Castiel. Crowley nodded, walking over to the sleeping angel and dragging his body towards the wall painted in blood.

"Sir, I don't understand. Why Castiel?" Crowley questioned. Lucifer lifted the golden feather with Castiel's black down feathers still stuck to it.

"Lord Dean has a soft spot for this angel. Lord Sam cares for his brother more than I have seen in any other so if I hurt Dean by using his precious angel then I hurt Lord Sam. In the end, I win because our little friend will kill them." Crowley held Castiel up so the resting angel was standing and looked to the high priest.

"Are you ready, Sir?" he asked. Lucifer nodded and Crowley began to speak some strange incantation. The wall covered in blood glowed and a door opened. Dark creatures crawled from it right into Castiel, turning the angel's veins black.

"The year of the Leviathan has come!"

Dean ran through the crowd as the people held yet another celebration for the Gods. He would have loved to join in, but with Castiel missing he was worried sick. We were all just about to break from the crowd when a woman screamed in terror. The crowd opened and Castiel stood a few feet away. His veins were black and black goo was leaking from his eyes, mouth, nose, and ears.

"Cassie!" Gabe screamed, reaching for his brother, but Dean and I held him back before Gabe could get any closer. Cas reached out a hand, sending sparks in all directions. People ran from Castiel as his grace turned everything to flames. A few of Michael's warriors used their own graces and weapons to fight back, but Cas was stronger. He plowed them over with his power one by one. When his eyes fell on us three he spread his black wings and flew at us with incredible speed. Gabriel wrapping his arms around me and Dean carrying us away from his little brother. Bobby raced towards us and Gabriel dropped my brother and I on top of the horse while he flew close behind. Cas followed us sending a wave of lightning towards Gabriel, smacking him in the back. Gabe yelped, falling to the ground. Castiel stood over the angel and Gabriel cried out as his brother glared at him with crazed eyes. Dean and I threw large stones at Castiel, distracting him from his brother.

"Bobby, get Gabe out of there!" Dean shouted at the horse. Bobby whinnied and raced towards Gabriel. Gabe pushed himself from the ground, holding onto Bobby as the horse carried him away from Cas' clutches. In the meantime we led Castiel in the opposite direction. When we finally stopped, gasping, we found ourselves on the edge of a cliff.

"What do we do?" I questioned my brother. This wasn't Cas. Something was wrong. Very wrong. Dean ran a hand through his hair. He had no idea.

"I know what you are," a voice hissed. We turned to see Cas standing next to Lucifer. A smug grin was curled around Lucifer's lips. "And I know what you are not," he added, waving a hand. The black in Castiel's veins drained away then and Cas slumped to the ground, eyes still open, but dead to the world around them. "You are not gods!" Black veins also disappeared from Cas' body. Dean and I stared at Lucifer and then looked to each other, an understanding passing between the two of us.

"You're not a God?" Dean shouted, grabbing me by the coat collar. "You lied to me? How dare you!" he screamed, pushing me away.

"Hey, it was his stupid plan!" I announced to Lucifer, waving an accusing hand at my brother.

"My plan was to lie low!" Dean shouted at me.

"Say's the guy who is hot on an angel!"

"You're one to talk!" Dean shouted back. "Listen we'd be both sailing out of here with a mountain of gold if you hadn't started getting second thoughts!" I whirled on him as he slapped me against the head.

"Well," I spat "Now you've got all the precious gold you want so what do you need me for?"

"Maybe I don't!" Dean shouted, slapping me in the face.

"Then why don't you go back to Spain with your angel and leave me here with mine?!" I shouted, hitting him back.

"Fine!" we shouted at each other, swinging our fists through the air, but hitting Lucifer in the nose instead. Lucifer flew backwards, almost going over the edge himself.

"Tie him up!" Dean shouted, grabbing a handful of vines and running towards the high priest. Lucifer shot forward, eyes. A creepy cackle burst from Castiel's lips from behind as the black returned to his veins and he sat up from where he was slumped. Castiel flung himself at us, knocking us off the cliff with Lucifer. Dean and I grabbed hold of some vines while Lucifer fell into the whirlpool beneath the cliff and was sucked up in seconds.

"Dean!" I shouted at my brother as the black faded from Castiel's veins as the spell snapped since Lucifer was now gone. Cas continued falling, out cold. Dean and I both swung on the vines holding us and grabbed Cas' arms before he too could fall into the watery abyss. I sighed.

"That was good –" I stopped, realizing Dean was glaring at me. I knew why too. Sighing, I crawled up the vine holding me, helping Dean pull Cas up. When we reached the top we were engulfed by Michael, Gabriel, and the other citizens. They were cheering for us, praising us like gods. Gabriel ran to Castiel as Dean pulled the angel up into his arms, bridal style. Gabe ran a hand gently through Cas' matted hair, smiling as his brother slowly opened his eyes. Gabriel and Dean shared a long look that I have seen countless of times. It was the 'take care of my brother' look. With a curt nod Dean clutched Cas closer to his chest and started heading back towards the temple. Gabe turned to me, a wide smile on his face as he ran to my side. I watched my brother go, heart sinking. So this was how it was going to be? I shook myself and called into the crowd as I pushed through it with Gabriel at my side. "Chief Michael!" I called out, stopping once I was in front of the angel. "I've decided to stay," I tell him. Michael's eyes widened and his wings shook with excitement.

"This is wonderful news!" he cried out in with glee. "What a glorious day for El Gracia!" Michael held his hands up to the air and addressed his people. "Lord Sam has decided to live among us!" The crowd continued cheering and Gabriel and I were hoisted onto their shoulders and carried towards the square for a celebration. My gaze once again traveled towards my brother. Dean had stopped and was now watching me with sad eyes, Castiel was back on his feet, hand squeezing Dean's shoulder.

"I'm sorry brother," I whispered. "But this is my choice."

Lucifer's head popped up from the water, gasping for breath. He was no longer in El Gracia. Instead he was far in the jungle, hundreds of miles from the entrance. The high priest glance at his back, gasping when he saw his wings had been torn from his back in the harsh waters. He started to crawl from the water when a sword was pointed at his throat. Lucifer's eyes widened as he recognized the image before him from his tapestries. A lord draped in shining armor and surrounded by his minions.

"My lord," Lucifer panted, bowing to the man before him.

"I am Alistair," the man hissed, pulling out a pistol and using it to tap Lucifer's golden earing. "Where did you get this?" Lucifer grinned cruelly. Oh, sweet revenge was just around the corner.

The Last chapter will be posted tomorrow if I have time. Thanks for reading!