Chapter 8

I'm so sorry I haven't updated in forever! I keep getting distracted and then procrastinating… I will never abandon a story so I will finish this even if it takes me years… This is unbeta'd like all of my other stories but I didn't have a lot of time to read this chapter over. Sorry for the mistakes.

Apocalypse Begin

"Who are you?"

"I don't know…"

"I cannot see your soul. What are you?" Castiel's wings flared in a threatening motion.

"I think… I'm an angel."

Could you be any more blunt?

Harry shifted nervously as the perpetual frown on the angel's face only deepened. "What is your name?"

"I told you. I don't know," Harry nearly sighed.

"How do you not even know your name?"

"I think… I died a long time ago. But I'm here now… with the memories of an angel and I can see you clear as day. But… I don't know my name."

Castiel looked a little less suspicious but there was still a glint in his eyes that said he didn't trust Harry.

"Please. Don't… don't leave…"

"Show me your wings."

"What?" Harry was startled. How was he supposed to do that?

"Wish for them to be free. Imagine the wind through your hair, the freedom of flight."

And Harry did. The first thing that came to mind was quidditch. How he had always felt as though nothing mattered while he was on his broom. But he didn't want the broom this time. He wanted his wings. He wanted to the joy and freedom he'd had when Gabriel had taught him to fly. The absolutely euphoric feeling…

A tear sounded through the air followed by a small gasp. Harry shuddered as his eyes fluttered open. Castiel looked absolutely awestruck. It was such a genuine emotion on the young angel's face that Harry couldn't help but smile. His back felt heavier and the ever constant itch was gone. Slowly he allowed the muscles in his back to move and slowly bring one brilliantly white wing into his line of vision. And he knew, just like he knew belief brought God into being, that there were many more invisible wings meant to be brought out for battle. He could feel them though they were weightless. He couldn't remember this feeling from his dreams… Maybe he was so used to it that it never really registered.

"How can it be? Your wings… you are an angel but even now I cannot feel you. Who…?"

Harry closed his eyes, "I really wish I knew. All I know is my title was Angel of Death and my name starts with an 'a'. I was hoping that being in the presence of another angel would bring forth more memories and maybe even my name."

"Is it working?"

"Yes… I can feel them in the back of my mind waiting for me to give in and pay them attention. The longer you are here… the more they gather."

"I have… never heard of the Angel of Death."

"I died before you were born…"

"I see. I will ask around heaven for you then."

Harry smiled and opened his eyes again. There was no more suspicion in that beautiful gaze. All that was left was a small bit of admiration and that empty hollow look.

"Thank you… brother."

And then Castiel was gone.

It took Pamela a while to summon Harry back to his body and when she did both Dean and Sam were staring at him.

"What?"

"Dude, the sheets under you just started getting bloody and when we flipped you over there were two giant fricken holes in your back! What the hell happened?"

Harry's smile was nearly blinding," I got my wings back! I can fly again!"

Sam looked happy for him and Dean seemed blank. It was then that he noticed the body of the psychic upon the floor.

"What happened?"

"She died from a goddamned demon stab wound."

Harry's exultant joy started to die down and he pushed himself off of the bed. Slowly so as not to aggravate the healing wounds on his back he knelt beside the woman's head. Placing a hand upon her brow, Harry stretched hi magic forward. Her soul was still lingering in the area though it was slowly starting to go downwards. The wizard didn't like that so with a pulse of magic the elderly reaper from before was summoned.

"Ah, the master's angel. It seems I was right."

"Are you going to reap her correctly or are you going to let the demons steal her."

"Harry," Sam asked, "what's going on?"

"There's a reaper here!? The fuck!"

"Please be quiet Dean. That language isn't really necessary. And yes I summoned a reaper. Wouldn't you prefer Pamela's soul go to heaven where it belongs?"

The elder reaper frowned at the soul slowly sinking into the floor and carefully knelt down to scoop it up. Then he turned to Harry and nodded. "It is fate that the Master of Death be the Angel of Death. He is happy that you are alive but he is having difficulty informing God. Be patient."

Be patient for what he wanted to ask but the reaper had already disappeared. Harry looked at the brothers. "Can we just got to sleep please?"

Harry hummed as he walked into the library. It held every memory of the humans and past events and there were even some scrolls that held the future plans of Father but no one was allowed to look at them without permission. He had come here to find Uriel for Michael. The quietest archangel was almost always in the library.

"Fledgling?"

"Hello, brother," Harry greeted cheerfully.

Uriel never spoke more than he had to so Harry explained why he was here without prompting. "I did not come for quiet today. Michael is looking for you because Father has a task for you! He said that it is of the utmost importance. Michael sent me because Father was still de bri- debrif-… um…"

"Debriefing?"

"Yes! He's still debriefing Michael so I came for you instead!"

"Thank you, little brother."

"Uh huh!"

Harry liked Uriel more than Raphael who seemed colder (though he knew that was just how his brother was). Uriel was always happy to share his peace and quiet with Harry and if asked would even tell Harry stories of when the first angels were created.

There were hands on him. Two hands caressing his sides and back.

"My beautiful mate. I will never let you go," a voice whispered into his ear. And then there were lips on his, soft and sweet. He opened his eyes and gazed into the beautiful ocean blue.

"Lucifer," he whimpered. "Please."

"Anything for you Az****."

One hand slid from his side to caress his stomach and then further down. Harry gasped and arched in pleasure. The pumping motion was slowly bringing him to his peak. And those lips were back, more insistent, devouring all that they could. His mouth, his neck, and collarbone all succumbed to those heavenly lips. But Harry was getting desperate.

Lucifer had slowed all of his motions refusing his mates release. He wanted to prolong this. The first time he could have this 'beautiful little ball of curiosity and energy all to himself' as he had said before. Father had approved most happily of their union and the archangel was going to take full advantage of this Harry knew.

"Please, please, please! Lucifer please!"

"For me, lovely. Do it for me. Now!"

And Harry was overcome with white.

"Raphael! Michael said you would teach me battle strategy! Please? Will you?"

The darker archangel looked upon his younger brother with a stern frown.

"You have been told not to run inside these halls have you not?"

Harry paused and looked down guiltily.

"Yes brother…"

"Hm. Well come on then. You wish to learn battle strategy? First you will learn discipline."

Harry grimaced. But then lit up. His brother had agreed!

He was trapped. Trapped. Trapped! This goddess hated him! Harry despaired. She hated angels and was trapped within the stone walls. In revenge and quite a bit of glee she had trapped him with her. Now he could not leave these walls. He could not see his brothers to let them know he was alive, that he had survived. He could not reassure Lucifer that nothing had happened.

Instead, he was trapped here for centuries, invisible to all, and forced to watch as the castle fell to ruin only to be restored to its former glory and turned into a school for mages. Generations passed through the halls and Harry could do nothing while she drained his powers into herself. It was almost a millennia later that he found a chance to escape. A fetus, dying inside of his mother's womb was in the Headmaster's office. He was weak enough to avoid her scrutiny and bind himself to fetus. Here he would be able to escape the stone prison and her and this mother would not lose her child before she even had a chance to birth him.

Harry carefully wrote down his latest dreams in his journal. They were on their way to Pamela's funeral and Dean was very irritable lately. Sam just sighed and they both seemed to be ignoring what he was doing. It worked just fine for him though, it gave him time to think over his dreams. The latest one had been… well it explained a lot. Why he felt as if the castle didn't like him near the end of the year. He had been trapped their after his 'death'. Though the question now was how did he get there to begin with?

"AZ****!" Help!"

Nathan? Something was wrong with his vessel!

"Fledgling? Helloooooo?"

"I have to go Gabriel!"

And Harry fled faster than he had in all of his long life. He had sworn to protect his vessel years ago and now the boy at sixteen years of age was special to him. He would allow nothing to harm him!

"Nathaniel!"

The boy was trapped under the burning debris of his house. Harry moved quickly and pulled him out before more harm and fire could befall him.

"Are you alright?"

"They killed my parents," he sobbed.

And Harry could indeed see a reaper taking John and Molly's souls. Harry felt anger bubble up from his gut. Someone had hurt his friend physically and emotionally. They would suffer his wrath!

"Who did this?"

It was said in such a soft voice that Nathaniel looked upon him with concern. "Who did this Nathan?"

This time it was more forceful and the boy understood his anger.

"The villagers. They believed we were harboring witches… we were… I remember you said that God created mages… So how could they be evil even if the bible said so?"

"Did these people ever sacrifice animals?"

"No…"

"Then you were correct in protecting them," Harry said softly as he started healing the burns and lacerations upon his vessels body. "Mages were created by Father but witches were not. They gain their power from making deals with demons of other cultures."

"Demons?"

"Yes… ghastly beasts with horrible powers that they can bestow upon others for a price."

"But God created everything."

Harry chuckled. "Would you like to hear a secret Nathan?"

The boy nodded as Harry finished with his healing. It was harder work for him than other angels because his very nature caused death not life. "Every god that has ever been believed in exists because people give them power through their belief. So every other culture that has monsters and gods follow them because they are real just as Father is real to you."

"I see." There was such wonder and curiosity upon Nathan's face that some anger drained from him.

"Now, the villagers need to be taught a lesson and I need to find these mages and return them safely to their own community and give them warnings that their society is not as accepted as before.

"Mages first please, Angel?"

Harry smiled at the boy's compassion. Nathan showed him then to a cave a fair distance from the house that a mother and her child had been hidden. Returning them and issuing his warning Harry flew quickly back to his vessel who was patiently waiting.

"Nathan I am not visible to normal mortals and even mages cannot see my true form. Would you allow me into your body to punish them?"

"As long as you don't kill them all…. Then yes."

The villagers would never forget the look of wrath upon the previously dead boy's face as he appeared in the middle of the village. They would also never forget that it was not their duty to judge another and decide whether they were worthy of Death for that job belonged only to the Angel of Death.

"Ruby will meet with us outside of Cheyenne. She's been tracking some leads. I know she's not exactly on your Christmas list, but if she can help us get to Lilith-"

"Hey man, work with Rudy, don't. I don't really give a rats ass."

"You still work with that bitch? Woah wait! Lilith!?"

"She's the first demon-"

"I know who she is! She killed me! And your going after her?"

Dean turned in the passenger seat to stare at the pastor. "Dude, she ganked you?"

"Yes. She killed me when she was still human. I imagine that's why Lucifer turned her," Harry muttered to himself.

Unfortunately it seemed the Winchesters' had the ears of the fox. "Why would Lucifer turn Lilith for killing you," Sam asked glancing at him in the rear view mirror.

"It's just a theory. Really, it's nothing. Don't worry about it. That doesn't mean I want to go after Lilith though."

Dean's eyebrows furrowed.

"What's you problem," Sam asked annoyed.

"I'm tired of burying friends Sam."

"Look, we catch a fresh trail-"

"And we follow it I know. I'm just-just getting tired…"

"Well, get angry."

Harry frowned he didn't really think that was a great thing to do.

Harry knocked on the door to the Winchester's room. Something felt off. Like there was an angelic presence but it was muted.

When no one answered he pushed his ear to the door. He could barely make out a man's voice saying something about being needed. But that voice sounded really familiar. He stood there for another few seconds debating on how to get in before he decided to blow the door off its hinges with magic. It could be fixed later, anyway. Doing just that he barged into the room while… oh dear lord was that Uriel?

"Uriel…" Harry whispered.

Something was wrong though. That muted feeling he had been getting was coming from his older brother. It was so strong that he barely noiced Castiel staring wide eyed at him and Sam and Dean both gaping.

"Another mud-monkey?"

That sounded like something that sanctimonious prat Zachariah would say, not his quiet peace loving brother.

"Not exactly," he murmured. And remembering what Castiel had told him and his feelings of joy, the wizard was able to slowly draw his wings out, casting a shadow on the doorway behind him. Something in Uriel's eyes seemed to snap and that muted power broke free. The archangel's wings spread in answer to Harry's challenge. Castiel turned his, now, frightened stare onto the other angel before rushing across the room to grab onto Dean and Sam before fleeing with them.

Harry was not at full power and he knew that but he had to draw out the old Uriel, not this… this ugly copy of the angel that sat by and watched as he 'died' by human hands. His brother was not in his right mind and this may just get him killed again but it was something he felt he needed to do.

Dread pooled in his gut as he watched and the archangel's blade slip into his hand.

(AN: I wanted to stop it here but it didn't meet my 3,000 word chapter qualification and I haven't updated in so long that I felt bad…)

"Uriel, brother… please? Come back."

He dodged to the side and watched as the blade lodged itself in the wall of the motel room. Then the older angel was upon him with hands tightening on his neck.

"What the hell man!"

"I had heard rumors but I had never believed…"

"What just happened Castiel," Sam asked in confusion.

"Before Lucifer fell, there were five archangels. But now there are only three. There are rumors around heaven that Uriel went mad with grief when Lucifer fell and begged father to seal his memories and powers. When your friend Harry challenged him, the seal snapped. He has come into his full power. It would have been too dangerous to stay."

"Wait, that douche is an archangel?"

"Yes."

"Oh no," Sam breathed. "Harry! He doesn't stand a chance with most of his grace locked away!"

Sam's eyes widened and he glanced nervously at Castiel.

"He has already told me that he is the Angel of Death."

"Then why didn't you tell him his name?"

"I… was born after he was gone. I have tried asking after his name in heaven but many just glare at me. It is like he never existed."

Harry dug deep into his core and let loose a blast of pure raw magic throwing Uriel into the wall.

"Please brother! Come back to your senses!"

But Uriel's eyes shone pure white and there was nothing there to reason with. He was all instinct. Their scuffle lasted for minutes with each one blasting the other into walls (luckily no battle wings were brought into the equation or Harry was sure he would have died quite quickly with no experience to back him up). Finally, the archangel's rage seemed to cool and dark brown took over the pure white. He blinked and tears immediately formed before streaming down his face.

"I… never wished to remember again," he said hoarsely.

Harry frowned. "Brother?"

"Azrael?"

Harry's head seemed to implode and he fell into darkness.

There was warmth and light and a soothing voice. He wanted more.

"That's it child. Wake up."

Green orbs blinked open slowly and the blurred figure in front of him became clearer. With four appendages, a torso, and a head. Two were arms that had hands at the ends and connected to the torso just below the head but on the sides. The other two were… legs connected to the bottom of the torso with feet at the end. And he knew, with the certainty that he had had naming the body parts, that this was his Father.

Brown hair fell in waves to Father's mid-back and his mouth was framed by a neat mustache and a long beard. Kindly brown eyes gazed down upon him with joy and the being couldn't help but feel awed.

"Hello my child."

"Hello Father."

"Would you like to know your name young one?"

Father would give him a name? A happy nod was Father's answer.

"Your name is Azrael. You are the angel of Death."

AN: That totally did not go in the direction I was planning… It just sort of wrote itself after my author's note… I wasn't really intending he learn his name this early but I can work with it. Tell me what you think~!