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This is crappy and not up to scratch and total filler but you guys don't know just how close you were to not having a chapter tonight. My head has NOT been in a good space and I'm sure you don't want to hear about that angst fest, so I'm sorry in advance and I'll try harder tomorrow because I clearly can't do anything right. The only time I've ever not updated was when this site was being a bitch, so I'm not about to start failing now.

Thanks to masterjediratgrl31, Starrya47 and RangerHorseTug for your reviews :)

234. Faith

The bar was deathly silent, with even the three terrified toddlers having enough sense not to make a sound. With his wrists bound tightly behind him, Castiel was anchored to the pole that he had woken up against, though he was thankful that the children had been tied to chairs; if help did come, it would be easier to free them and they could get to safety first.

"I was expecting more from the great Dean Winchester," the demon said boredly, picking at her fingernails. "I mean, I go to all this trouble of leaving him a scavenger hunt, so I can have fun rather than just nab everyone at once, and he doesn't even bother to show?"

Nobody had expected a demon to possess Vivian Kendrick and once the demon had grabbed little Mary, none of them had stood a chance. What Castiel didn't understand about the kidnapping was why Rose had been left behind. Had Rose's mother been able to exert a tiny amount of influence over the demon to save her daughter from danger?

"Yeah, he definitely knows we're here," Sam muttered, his eyes locked on his sons and daughter. Castiel found it utterly cruel that the demon wouldn't allow Sam the small mercy of being able to comfort his children but then again, this was a demon. They didn't even know what mercy meant.

"Well, dumbass, that's why I left your pretty damsel behind. I had to give him the message somehow. And I wouldn't mind getting a piece of that when I've got the whole Brady Bunch here. You chose a looker, Sam."

If looks could kill, Castiel was sure that the demon would be ashes by now, what with just how terrifying Sam's glare was.

"You touch Rosie and I will end you."

"Uh huh. I've heard that one before. I would've thought you'd be more original."

The demon lazily twirled Henry's hair. The little boy began to sniffle.

"Home, Daddy! Wanna go home!" he cried. Castiel felt his heart begin to break. How could demons be so cruel as to torture little children?

"Shut up, brat," the demon snapped. "Play your cards right and all you kids can go."

Castiel noticed Sam sit up a little straighter at that.

"I highly doubt that you would release them out of the goodness of your heart," Castiel spat. The demon rolled her eyes.

"Oh, please. You hunters die painfully, I traumatise the kids and Grandma here ends up scarred for life. I win all around! Killing them would just be a mercy."

Yes, demons really didn't know what mercy meant. Desperate to keep Zoey and Robbie – who were huddled in their chairs and not saying a single word – alive and relatively well, Castiel chose to slump against the pole rather than antagonise the demon.

'I'm sorry, Dean. I'm too weak to save everyone. You don't deserve somebody as useless as me.'