Chapter 26
Dean's body stiffened as he went into full hunter mode and protection mode combined while he held Sam back behind him. He looked over at Castiel and saw he was bowing reverently. He knew his gun was not going to help him now and let it hang to his side.
"Cas do you know them?" Dean asked quietly not taking his eyes off the ones in front of them.
"They are Enochian angels." Cas replied still not moving. "The highest order of angels in Heaven, I have never seen one."
"I know one of them, when our sister was kidnapped, he saved her." Dean commented curious why they were here.
"Rise Castiel." a gentle male voice commanded.
Castiel stood up facing the three angels who sat before them. Light emitted from them casting a halo effect around their bodies. They were dressed in pure white robes with belts of gold braid. Their grey eyes had a blue tinge to them as they watched the two brothers and the angel.
Ellie started howling and whining excitedly that drew the three's attention. Dean stepped forward so he could see around a long silk curtain blocking their view. He drew in a sharp breath when he saw the body of their sister lying on a pallet. She was pale and still and he couldn't tell if she was breathing or not.
"Aurora." Castiel said softly seeing what Dean saw. He started to step toward her, but was stopped. "You have her soul that is why I couldn't find her." he addressed the angels.
"Your sister had a very brave and strong soul." Seraphim commented. "She did not hesitate to give her life for your world. We brought her here to honor her, not many of you humans are willing to do this."
"Take me." Dean said stepping away from the other two toward the angels showing no sign of fear more defiance.
"Dean." Sam cried in shock at his words.
"Would you like to explain?" one of the female angels asked.
"My sister, if you need a soul, take mine and give hers back." Dean replied holding his head high. "Mine for hers."
"No, no!" Sam demanded. "If anyone should do that, it should be me. I was the one who killed her."
"I know both of you, the Righteous Man and the boy with demon blood." Seraphim said. "You have both died several times in the past saving your world and here you are willing to give your lives again for one soul. Saving the world must run in the Winchester blood."
"That soul is my sister; I'd do anything for her."
"Both of you have no problem sacrificing for others." Eleos added.
"Seraphim, Eleos, Camael," Castiel started. "I would freely give up my existence for Aurora to live."
"Castiel, the angel who tried to be God." Seraphim noted.
Castiel hung his head in shame of his action. "It was a mistake I made; I take full responsibility for my actions, but I will freely give my life for her's"
"At least you corrected the mistake before all was lost." Camael told him. "Most would not have done that."
"Your love for your sister is immense, I commend you for that."
"Please bring her back." Sam begged as tears etched their way down his cheeks.
"She has done much for your world and she does keep you two anchored in a way no others has. There is still much for both of you to accomplish but I wonder will you have the guidance needed without your sister?" Seraphim noted.
"You promised to keep her safe." Dean accused. "You gave her your mark."
"Yes, but I would not take away her free will and what she did was her choice. She spoke with me about this plan and I gave her what help I could. She made the final choice."
"She made the only one guaranteed success." Camael added.
"And you Castiel, it seems she loved you, but how do you feel about her?"
Castiel blushed at his remark but answered, "I do have strong feelings for her, this is all new to me, I think it could be love."
Dean and Sam eyed Castiel as his words sunk in. Their suspicions were correct; there were feelings between the two of them.
"Will you bring her back?" Dean asked waiting for a response.
The three angels looked at one another in deep thought, then back at the three standing before them. It seems they communicated without speech deciding Aurora's fate. Seraphim stood looking down on them before strolling slowly behind the curtain to Ellie and Aurora's body. Ellie bristled and growled at his approach wanting to protect her charge.
"I will not harm her, it's alright." he spoke calmly to Ellie raising his hand to her.
Ellie whined at him, but kept her place beside Aurora watching his every move so she could guard.
Serephim knelt down beside her and placed a hand on her forehead. Blue light begin to shine out from under his hand as it enveloped her body before dying out. He stood, stepping back waiting for the first breath of life. Aurora's mouth opened and air was drawn into her lungs.
"Aurora!" Dean cried running to her side. He dropped to the platform beside her and watched her pull in another breath. Color began to return to her face as her breathing increased. Ellie yipped and whined licking her face and hands. "Easy girl, I got her."
"Dean?" Sam questioned moving toward them not sure if what he was seeing was real. He held his breath waiting for Dean to answer.
"She's got a pulse." he called checking her neck before picking her up in his strong arms. Dean held her close to him as he stepped back toward the others with Ellie following at his side. "Time to go home."
"Thank you." Castiel bowed to the angels as his heart pounded faster with the sight of Aurora alive.
"Yeah, thanks." Sam agreed smiling broadly. "Thanks so much."
"Can we leave now?" Dean asked wanting to get Aurora home.
"Close your eyes and take care of your sister she is important to your world." Seraphim said slowly waving his hand before him.
The three obeyed and could tell when the pressure around them changed and they felt the sun on their face. They opened their eyes and were back in the clearing again.
"Cas can you get us home without hiking?"
"Yes." he said waiting for Sam to bend down and hug Ellie before he stood between the brothers putting his hand on each of them, transporting them to the front yard in front of Oree's cabin. Dean and Sam looked around and headed for the front door.
"I'm going to lay her down." Dean told them heading for her bedroom.
"I'll straighten the bed up." Castiel said following him. "I did help mess it up."
Dean stopped short causing Castiel to run into him. "We'll discuss your intentions toward my sister later." he growled.
"I sense you're not happy." Castiel surmised pulling the covers down and straightening them so Dean could lay her down. Castiel pulled the covers up over her and laid a hand on her cheek brushing it softly with a finger wanting to kiss her, but felt Dean would not approve.
Dean cleared his throat, standing with his arms crossed waiting for Castiel to leave. Sam stood in the doorway biting his lip to keep from laughing at the scene. He was so glad that he was not Castiel right now as Dean glared daggers at him.
"I'll call Bobby and Asteria to let them know she's home." Sam said pulling out his cell.
"I'll leave the door open so we can hear her. Come back to us little sis." he whispered to her kissing her forehead. Dean steered Castiel and Sam out of the room and toward the kitchen.
"She going to be okay?" Sam asked staring back at the door.
"She is resting in a deep sleep." Castiel told him. "I can sense a little, but not much."
"I say this deserves a toast." Dean said sitting three glasses on the counter and pour shots in each. They each took up a glass and Dean said. "To Aurora and her safe return to us."
"Aurora." Sam and Castiel said together clicking their glasses and downing the amber liquid in one swallow.
Sam coughed slightly as it took his breath away. Dean smiled and Castiel didn't feel any effect at all.
"So, you wanna tell me about you and my sister?" Dean asked standing in front of him staring him down with a scowl on his face.
Sam took a seat at the bar waiting for the show to begin, this conservation he didn't want to miss. He hoped he wouldn't have to be a mediator and stop any bloodshed. Sometimes his brother could be unreasonable and hard to get alone with when it came to people he cared about. Yes, Sam knew he did consider Castiel part of their family too, but Castiel and Oree, that may take a little longer to accept.