Standing In The Light OF Your Halo
Damon entered the building hearing the incredibly awkward conversation going on between not only the reunited brothers but the estranged family that Dean apparently wasn't even aware they had.
"Do you have it?" Castiel's voice came through in her head. Knowing what he was talking about she spoke back to him inside her head. "It's faint but I'll still be able to track them." "Good." Castiel said. Some relief edging it's way through his voice.
She took that as her cue to start tracking the scent back to it's original source. Leaving the creepy building she made her way into a suburban neighborhood scents of not only the creature she was tracking but also the older Winchester started to fill her nose.
Coming to a stop at the building she told Castiel the situation and felt the same surge of energy before that led to her crossing over the threshold moments before. Stepping into the house she was greeted by the sight of a man appearing to be in a coma like state and dead woman on the ground.
"Hello."a voice purred out. Spinning around to face a dark haired woman with tattoo steadily rising up her arm. "It's good the fun isn't over yet." She taunted taking a step toward Damon arm reached out.
Damon grabbed her arm breaking her wrist and twisting her arm behind her back yanking her forward so the woman's back was pressed against her chest. "Yes I'd say it's just began." She whispered in the woman's ear before hurling her out the window.
As if by magic a dagger suddenly appeared in Damon's hand Castiel's voice instructing her. "This will kill them." She threw the knife at the woman who was steadily rising to her feet rage in her eyes, it landed smack in the middle of her chest. She sped over and tore it out before spinning around to face a man. She held the dagger out in front of her defensively which only caused the man to chuckle. "Thanks for the heads up it's been a while since I've had a run in with your kind."
His eyes then ran over his dead companion before coming back to her eyes now dark and wild. "I'm going to enjoy draining you for eternity." He sped at her she was surprised but acted on impulse side stepping causing him ram into the tree behind her instead. He got up quickly eyes scouting for her when a force behind him sent him hurling toward the house smashing against the wall he dropped his eyes down to the white picket stake pinning him to the wall of the house before he met his end quickly with knife to the chest.
Damon slowly took the knife out. "Well that was a new experience." She froze when she heard the frantic shouting of the oldest Winchester who had by now heard the noise and probably saw the wrecked window and bodies laying outside of the house.
Acting quickly she sped and jumped over to a nearby rooftop where she could listen in not before relaying the situation to Castiel.
"There's still more left i could smell and hear them." She informed him "The Winchesters will be able to take care of them now that they are no longer in danger of an ambush you took out the oldest these ones are young and inexperienced." Castiel told her. "Good work." She felt what she could only describe as pride go through her and she knew that feeling was definitely not coming from her. "For now I need you to stay in the area I'll join you in a bit I have some matters to deal with regarding my army and our next moves against Raphael." He said she could feel the resignation in the statement. "Okay." She told him feeling his presence retreat from her mind completely she couldn't stop the small feeling in her gut that missed it. That's when she felt a warmth flow through her one she knew all throughout her childhood since she could remember it was gentle and warm like the sun on a cold day and it clung around her like a gentle embrace refusing to leave. Looking down she could have swore she saw glittering gold specks like stars lighting up all around her but it was gone before she could even take a second look however the feeling stayed with her.
Damon decided on stopping at a Cafe about a mile away and sat down to drink a cup of coffee lost in thought. The Winchesters taking up most of her head space boy did she sure hear her fare share about them. Most of them she thought were exaggerations however after meeting Castiel and being brought to light on a few things not to mention having to infiltrate their new hunter families little hang out she couldn't help but feel a little weary.
However like usual anytime she felt intimidated a cold confidence would find it's way back in. If she could pull one over on Klaus more then once and beat Katherine at her own game enough for her to regret teaching her, "Everything she knew." She could handle them, she could handle this.
That wasn't the only thing on her mind though she thought about her little brother. Where he was now what he was doing. What had he now decided he was going to do for the rest of his eternity? She had spent so much of their time together for the past century destroying any attempt at of his at a fresh start so consumed in her own rage at him for him to ever even really have any other thoughts except how much he wanted her out of his life and yet he still refused to apologize. Until she found her way back to their sleepy little town and slowly but surely they began to mend their relationship.
Damon was surprised she didn't feel regret at her decision to change Stefan's memories and remove herself from his life for good. All she felt was a deep sense of peace and acceptance. He would now have a life all for his own and so would she that gave her a new sense of freedom too. Stefan wasn't the only one who had a fresh start at new life so did she and she felt some hope kindle and stir up at possibilities.
That thought however was interrupted when Castiel came onto the loud speaker in her head telling her the Winchesters had taken the rest out and she wouldn't be needed by them for time being. "Okay Castiel I'll go find someplace to stay at for the time being." "I'll check up on you when I can." He replied back to her quickly sounding like he wanted to do so now but of coarse kinda hard when your drawing battle lines. "just focus on your army I can wait." She said evenly. She gestured over to the waitress who brought her, her check.
Putting down a generous tip she walked out the door. Pulling out her phone she searched for the most expensive foreclosure in town and asked to see the realtor once coming face to face she compelled herself ownership of the house and then promptly moved in.
Men were trailing behind her empty looks in their eyes as they carried the furniture in. Once everything was settled and the men went on their merry compelled ways. Damon took out her vintage glasses and poured the bourbon in it while contemplating things.
If the Winchesters moved around a lot for their hunts would she stay be able to stay in here in one place claim territory? Or would she have to forgo it to the sacrifice that was babysitting them?
Speaking about her vampire nature that wanted to be let out. What about feeding? She noticed a few bars and clubs on her way here deciding to take a cab to get a view of the surrounding area. Those used to be very easy and plentiful feeding grounds.
Castiels terms and conditions of their deal slammed back into her head. No hunting no feeding on innocents. A suggestion wafted around her mind she'd never been one to play by someone else's rules all she had to do was go to one she'd be in and out faster then any one had been the wiser.
Doubt started to leak into her very being Castiel could already talk to her in her head she'd be beyond foolish to think he wouldn't be able to know when she stepped on one of those conditions.
There was another part of her one deep inside that also didn't want to disappoint him the way he had looked at her like she was still something pure to him something to be taken care of something to be treasured. "I know you." She remembered Castiel telling her when they first met the way he empathized know. What exactly did he mean? That was the question that was itching at her very being. If he trusted her the least she could do was trust him.
Sighing she poured herself another drink and planned to go to a blood bank if she couldn't snatch eat erase she would not only need a lot of alcohol usually as it wouldn't be her cravings she would be controlling but her urges if she didn't have an outlet for them this could take the edge off.
Sitting down on the sofa she had a moment of peace before taking off to go stock the fridge after a quick trip to the hospital.
Meanwhile.
After hearing a crash and Scuffle outside Dean quickly made his way down the stairs looking outside he saw the shattered window and one of his neighbors lifeless inside the home.
Dean rushed forward Sam calling behind him after coldly telling Dean not to even risk going after them that they were likely already dead.
He didn't stop until he reached the front of the house which revealed an unfamiliar man pinned to the tree by a white piece of fence he had another stab wound around him and that's when the elder Winchester noticed the veins in his arm quickly deducing the dead man wasn't human.
Now on alert he clutched the silver knife in his hand at the ready while turning back toward the entrance of the house only to notice another stranger this time a woman stabbed dead underneath the shattered window, The veins told the same story about what she had been. Rushing inside the house he was greeted by the sight of his dead neighbors guilt overwhelmed him.
Sam came in moments later blood splattered on his shirt apparently he had found the other Djinns. Not even giving the dead neighbors much of a glance he looked out the shattered window of the scene before him. "Did Samuel have any other hunters that knew about this?" Dean asked both pissed at the possibility that their grandfather had someone else who knew but somehow didn't get there in time to save his friends and a little uneasy at the brutality of which they killed them. i
t didn't feel like a hunters kill which left him reeling about other threats and possibilities his family in Lisa and Ben could be the targets of unintentionally or not.
"No," Sam said analyzing the scene in front of him with cold calculation. "This isn't exactly our style either."
"I was afraid you were going to say that.' Dean responded curtly before gesturing to everything else. "What the hell man what else could have taken them out?" He then brought his hand to his face before pointing toward Sam. "But most importantly why? What could they possibly gain from doing this?"
Sam shrugged his shoulders now scanning the surrounding area. "I don't know maybe it was Castiel?" Dean just laughed in his face. "I told him I wanted out of the life didn't want anything supernatural in it and haven't heard from him since and even if that were true this doesn't exactly look like an angel kill."
"Yeah you're right as always." Sam said an undertone of mocking Dean seemed to be oblivious of. "Let's just take this somewhere else. " Dean said gesturing for Sam to follow him back into the Lisa's house.
What followed was a very awkward and incredibly uncomfortable interaction between Sam, Ben and Lisa before they packed up for Bobby's.
Back at the Mansion
Damon hurriedly threw the blood bags in the fridge before moving out of the kitchen and to the long staircase up to her room. using her vampire speed she made quick work of it before going downstairs and preparing herself a drink with blood mixed in.
Taking sip she almost choked when she heard the sound of wings and voice behind her.
"So this is where you've decided to stay." The distinct gravely voice of the angel proclaimed curiously.
"Yeah it's the best I could find at such short notice." Came her slightly sarcastic response.
Turning to face the intense gaze of the angel she found herself feeling slightly uncomfortable again because it was like he was looking through her at something she couldn't see checking for something. Whatever he found he seemed to be satisfied with because as quickly as his eyes searched through her they were back to meeting her eyes full on.
"You"ll need to put up warding." He told her before moving over to one of the walls. "Actually it may be quicker if i do it."
Before she had time to comment he slammed his hand down on a wooden beam beside him and the house glowed a tiny bit before dimming completely. Nothing around the house seemed out of place at her confused look he went to explain. "I carved it into the inside of every wall in the house you'll be safe now.'
"Thanks." She muttered a bit dazed.
"You're welcome.' He responded before moving over closer to her there were so many things she saw in his eyes questions it seemed he wanted to ask her but held himself back from doing so so much that she began to feel light headed it started off as kind of whisper in her head getting louder and louder. It was beginning to prick her head in all directions. Taking a deep breath she focused on all the sounds she could hear outside the trees rustling the sound of strangers walking, dogs barking until finally the whispers in her head quieted and the pain subsided.
"I also brought this." Castiel told her a briefcase appearing in his hand. He put it on the coffee table and opened it up revealing various weapons organized inside it. "You'll need these."
"Like that dagger you gave me?" She questioned him.
"Yes these are all the weapons you"ll need to protect them.' He paused before slipping a weapon from his coat it looked like a small silver sword.
"This will work to but please only ever use it in emergencies it does give off a powerful energy when used and that could bring unwanted attention." He told her holding it out to her hilt first.
She grabbed it and twirled it around in her fingers before stopping at Castiels disproving look. "Please be careful that can also kill me." He informed her. Blinking in surprise she simply placed it gently by the briefcase.
"So thanks for the weapons to help with my babysitting gig." She told him gesturing toward the couch and for him to take a seat he did so a belt awkwardly.
She went over to where her small bar was set up. "Want anything to drink?" She asked him.
He was about to inform her that he was a celestial being and didn't require it before thinking better of it. "Water is fine." He told her. She glanced at him from the corner of her eyes before nodding and in a blur she was back with a cup of water in her hand giving it to him before going over and grabbing her own drink.
He sipped tentatively he hated the overwhelming taste of molecules it was both fascinating and mystery to him how humans could stand this.
Damon sat down across from him they sat there for a few moments until they had both finished drinking, Castiel first as it looked like he had made it his mission to down it as quickly as he could.
"So anything else you came here for or are the weapons and the shiny blade it?" She cut in bluntly.
"I-" Castiel paused. "I also wanted to check on you and see how you were settling in." He told her hesitantly meeting her own.
She stared hard into his eyes and waves of emotions went through her that didn't feel like her own and were a bit overwhelming seeing only innocent sincerity in his eyes she answered him. "I'm doing well went to the blood bank took a donation and managed to move in here in record time."
Moving over toward the bookshelf she grabbed a book and went to sit down again mindlessly filtering through the pages. "Might as well read the classics not much else to do at the moment.'
Castiel watched her boredly look through the pages and a very familiar feeling of responsibility gripped him again. getting up he walked toward her grabbing the book and placing it on the side of the couch before looking at her. "How would you like to learn how to use that blade." He informed her head gesturing to the neatly placed angel blade on the coffee table.
"I think I have confidence in my abilities to stab something Castiel." She huffed out a little amused and offended rolling her eyes.
Castiel now understanding what she thought he had meant only shook his head. "Not against monsters, against others who hold the same blades."
Damon sat up a bit straighter. "Angels?" You want to teach me how to fight against angels?"
"Yes." He informed her before a playful glint came into his eyes he gestured with his hand to the book now laid out on the couch next to her. "Or you can go back to reading if you so choose."
A wide grin overtook Damon's face as she stood up. "Where do we start?"
Castiel first explained how stabbing an angel anywhere with an angel blade to their main body part whether that be their head or most preferably their chest would kill the angel he also explained that nicking them would hurt and do sometimes do some damage but nothing that couldn't be healed quickly.
And so began a long lesson in how to properly hold an angel blade and then Castiel taught her the proper way to disarm and strike once he thought she had everything down which wasn't that long as she'd had some taken fencing a couple times in her immortal life he took out his own angel blade and gestured for her to try and land a blow with her own blade.
Lunging forward Castiel expertly deflected and shoved her backward advancing on her she backed up few steps barely able to deflect his own blow before sidestepping. "Are we allowed to cheat?" She asked as their blades clashed eyes connecting as he put together what she meant.
"Go ahead." Castiel told her the second the words left his mouth she blurred away and around him. Castiel stood still for a moment before shoving his elbow back and with precision the second he felt the slightest shift in the air causing Damon to be shoved back she fell to the floor for a second before forcing herself back up to try again this time using her speed she came at him again with the blade only for him to deflect again and again. Frustration began to make it's way through her veins and she tried another tactic one that she'd used before countless times on opponents stronger then her. Blurring around and out of sight of Castiel she took the glass she grabbed it and through it across the living room. Castiels eyes strayed away as he moved toward the sound seeing Castiel back to her she took her chance lunging forward again about to nick him when Castiel quickly spun around and deflected again.
She rolled her shoulders back in frustration. Castiel only shook his head a fond look starting to form on his face. "That would probably have worked on anyone else but I know all your moves." He told her as he had been watching her for a very long time.
"Then why did you..." She trailed off not finishing her sentence although Castiel had
Finished for her in his own head. "Why did he pretend to fall for it?" was the sentence that went unasked.
"I didn't think it was fair you were the only one allowed to cheat." He told her amusement in his tone eyes.
She chuckled a bit before heading over to the coach and fell into it. "touche."
"Although it's going to be a little hard next to impossible to ever beat you if you know all my moves ahead of time." She said now fiddling with her daylight ring.
Castiel only smiled at her reassuringly. "I have faith you'll find different moves you haven't thought of yet." He then said without thinking. "This will be a challenge for you I've seen you seem to enjoy those."
Her head shot up. "Yeah exactly how much do you know about me?" She asked him eyes burning with intensity.
Castiel suddenly appeared to be at a loss for words again floundering however he internally sighed with relief when one of his soldiers prayed for him giving him the perfect excuse dodge the heavy question. "I have to go I'm told there's important matters that need my attention it's been good to see you're settling in."
And with those parting words along with the flutter of wings left and very bemused Damon behind to ponder on everything alone.
The next day proved to be challenge all on it's own not only would did she have to track down a shifter of Which Castiel relayed to her extensive knowledge of but she had to dodge the boys who had it's offspring while she tracked it.
While the Winchesters were first amusing to watch from the sidelines as they attempted to care for the baby they were also getting on her nerves as they took the baby back to their creepy hunter hang out. Didn't they know the shifter was tracking them? According to Castiel it wasn't a regular one either.
Damon watched as Dean took the baby and ran locking himself in room as the rest of the hunters faced off against the mega shifter. After Their attempts failed she watched as it made it's way over to where Dean and it's infant hid. Easily opening the door and getting inside it reached up and began strangling him just as he was probably about to lose consciousness she sped over jabbing the angel blade through his heart careful not to completely go through his chest lest she hurt the baby he was holding. There was bright glow before he dropped dead. Kicking him to the side she grasped Dean by the chin eyes now directly focused on the hypnotizing ones of her own. "Let me take the baby and stand completely still in this spot don't move until I leave."
With that she as gently as she could she removed the baby from his grasp his eyes were now wide with panic at the realization he couldn't move.
Rocking the baby when it started to fuss a bit she backed up and was about to go to the door when he spoke up. "Who- What are you?" "What are you doing?" "What do you want with the baby."
Staring back at him she hummed before responding. "Well for starters it looks like I"m saving your ass." As for the baby don't worry I"m not going to do anything with him." She paused for a minute smirking and deciding to screw with him. "Gotta run Castiel sends his love." She winked at him then turned around making a waving motion with one of her hands.
"No." Dean shouted at her as she sped away with the baby eyes now as wide as saucers at the superhuman speed. Before reeling back a second when the words replayed in his head. "What the hell?" He exclaimed throwing his hands in the air.
Damon paced on top of the rooftop with the baby in her arms great now figuring out what to do with a baby just made her to do list. "Castiel." She called out hesitantly.
The flutter of wings was the first indicator of what was behind her as she spun around to face the angel.
"This is the shifters child?" He made sure to ask her as reached out for the baby carefully.
Nodding as he took the baby in his arms he told Damon. "I know exactly where to take him there's a woman who knows about the supernatural she's longed for a child for some time he will be greatly cared for there."
All she did was nod as he disappeared yet again. "You've done well." She heard in her head.
She stood on top of the roof holding her arms around herself she heard the rustling of feathers before turning to face Castiel in front of her. Without any regard for personal space he moved toward until they stood inches from each other. "You did well." He Commented eyes downcast and hand starting to fold awkwardly. Melancholy starting to settle in he didn't notice the complete look of shock on the face taking him in.
"Yeah you mentioned that." She commented except Damon kept looking behind him because behind him was one of the most magnificent sights she'd ever seen large black wings stood behind his back they were like a crows glistening all colors in the light. The were drawn forward toward her. They seemed a little droopy now though and rustled a bit as if flustered.
"I killed four of my brothers today." He blurted out head turning down even further. "Brothers I've known since before the beginning." He huffed out a breath. "I just want this all to be over." He then turned his eyes up to her again as if seeing her soul his eyes looked almost like they were inspecting before shifting away from her intense gaze anxiously when he noticed she was analyzing him this time
She felt a pang in her heart he looked so defeated and just tired as tired as an angel could look in that moment. Damon made a quick decision dropping herself to the ground startling Castiel a bit she swung her legs over the edge of the roof and patted the place beside her. He hesitated for a minute before dropping down next to her and doing the same. She looked out at the view in front of them the stars lit up the sky as did the lights from the city. Suddenly she bumped her shoulder against his catching his eyes. "You've got this. "She said genuinely. "I get the impression no one ever really says that too you."
"I'm sorry that you've had to kill your family and I'm sorry you've been put in a potion no one would ever ask to be in." Damon said looking at him trying not to shift when one of his wings reached over her back and brushed against it or when it seemed like it wanted to curl around her. "I'm not great at small talk either never really been my thing. You however seem like someone who needs a distraction."
"So how long have you have you known bonehead 1 and 2?" She directed her question at him freezing a bit when she did feel and see his wing start to curl around her warming her from the cold air of the night.
His lips curled up a bit before answering." A year when I saved Dean from hell."
Eyes widening Damon decided to redirect. "Okay next question what do you want to do when you beat Raphael?"
"If-" Castiel started body still tired wings still curled forward and now drooping a bit.
"When." She cut in resolutely. He could feel how genuinely she believed the statement and couldn't help the smile that started to sprout on his face.
"I haven't really thought much about it." He told her honestly. "Heaven will need so much rebuilding how it's being run now." He shuddered. While he didn't remember what happened when the angels ripped him from Jimmy a year ago he did remember the subconscious terror and foreboding when the angels lead him to that room everything after being strapped down to a chair was complete blur.
"My family deserves better." He said before looking down toward the street where quite far away with his angelic vision he could see some people walking hand in hand their child in between them. "Humanity deserves better we're supposed to be their shepherds not their murderers."
"I assume it's very authoritarian." She said feet swinging a bit before crossing.
"You could say that." He said before turning to her again tone teasing. "I thought i needed a distraction?"
"Right." She said leaning into him bit more before moving up to the stars. "Every night before I went to bed when i was human I would look up at the stars and wonder if all the stars in the sky used to humans." She said as her eyes seemed to drift to another time before her head turned toward his she waved her hand. With a teasing edge to her tone she said. "Of coarse now that the lion king's come out all those years ago I now know their really just the kings of the past."
His eyes squinted at her the reference completely going over his head. She continued on giggling at his totally clueless look. "Joking." She explained and he nodded his head though still seeming to be confused.
"I would ask them questions every night and when I was really little I would sing to them." She told him gazing back up at sky. "They never answered back but it made me feel less alone."
"Like no matter what something out there does care, something out there is listening." She hummed out.
He knew about this very old habit of hers but chose not to say anything only blinking up at the night sky. Her words striking a different chord within him. Just as his gaze was roaming over the constellations they both saw it at the same time a shooting star.
She nudged him. "Come on make wish."
"I do not see why I am required to make-" His sentence fell off at the look she was giving him.
"it's something us humans do when you see a falling star you make a wish and you sure seem to be in need of one." She supplied for him.
He let go of the rest of his sentence with small shake of his head before intently looking at the sky his eyesight still being able to make out the stars trajectory. lost in deep thought it took him a moment but he finally made his wish deciding to humor her and maybe in a way himself.
"I have made my wish." He told her quietly. "I wished that-"
"Sssh." She shushed him aggressively wagging a finger in his face. "Uh uh no, no, no you can't tell me or it won't come true that's how it works."
Castiel looked at her perturbed humans were very fascinating but also very, very perplexing.
His wings curled even more around her and that's when he noticed it himself. His wings would usually go through someone at this point and instead they rested solidly around her back eyes widening in shock she met his gaze. "You can..."
"Yeah." She said. "Didn't really know how to bring that up yet."
He shifted his wings thinking he had made her uncomfortable when she stopped him. "You don't have to move them it's okay."
She wasn't gonna tell him they felt familiar like the comforting feeling that seemed to randomly strengthen around her these days.
He relaxed his wings before following her gaze back up to the night sky. That's how they spent the rest of the night her pointing out constellations and he would tell her what he remembered from when they were made and formed.
Forgetting the world below.
The last parting words from Damon spoken in Castiels mind like a set loop. "You've got this."
A/N And that will be all for a bit until the new year. I'm hoping to update a lot more of my other stories as well however I have my own medical issues to deal with right now.
I'm changing up the season a bit and instead of 6x03 it will be the one where Dean and Sam take on the vampire nest and all the mess that ensued with that, figured it would be as good as time as any for the big reveal to happen.
Thank you for reading and take care and happy holidays!