Author's note: Just a quick reminder that I started writing this fic in french back in 2012~2013, so the Cain I wrote is nothing like the Cain that appeared in the later seasons of Supernatural.
Previously: The Sisters of Fate reported that Cain should already have had a son named Henok, and Camael assured that this would be done within the year. Eve's monsters are beginning to appear all over the planet, while the Four Horsemen are attacking Humans. The Garrison receives orders to lock the Seven Sins in Hell.
oOo
Lucifer's weapons
Cain grew his hair and roughly trimmed his beard. He's sitting on a tree trunk and carving a piece of wood, showing no reaction whatsoever to the harrowing screams coming from inside the house.
To be fair, the woman has been suffering through labor pains since the sun rose, and now it's about to sink into the misty horizon. Human reproduction is so tedious…
Camael is the one in charge of keeping a watch on me today, this is why I am here.
As for Anael, he is watching closely to make sure Cain's offspring will be born healthy and male like the Sisters predicted. If the child doesn't make it, Cain will have to try again with this woman or another.
I've grown used to be supervised. After millions of years of solitude, hearing the Garrison's voices in my head and only meeting them every now and then, this is a welcome change. My brothers used to be almost abstract concepts to me, but now I'm beginning to really know them, their personality and what makes them different from one another.
I am aware this is supposed to be a punishment. Being deprived of my sector that was my charge since forever is humiliating, but now I feel bonded to my brothers by something more than just the Mission.
I glance at Anael who hasn't moved a limb since he arrived. His eyes are riveted to Cain's wife who's crying and screaming in the arms of her sister. I wonder if Anael still feels the temptation to ease the delivery like he wanted to do for Adam's and Eve's mothers, or if the rehabilitation wiped off any remaining trace of misplaced compassion in him.
Camael is invisible, just like us. Even if Cain is able to see and hear us without any pain, that is not the case for his wife and the dozens of Humans living in the high plains around. The Angel of Joy is standing as still as stone but I see his Grace growing restless inside his body, drawing trickles of light swirling around chaotically. His golden eyes look somehow dull as he stares at Cain. He didn't take his eyes off him even once in the last few hours.
Cain stops carving his piece of wood that now has a vaguely human shape and sighs as he look up to the sky, gazing at the mountains and the frayed clouds as if he were trying to see us. His eyes drop shut and an expression of focused serenity relaxes his features. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Camael's wings shiver and his eyes lit up. His Grace calms down and flows again peacefully in his body. I look back at Cain who is smiling softly with his eyes still closed.
Is he praying to Camael?
I avert my eyes and decide to focus on the woman whose face is shiny with sweat and grimacing in pain. I just hope Henok will be born before Rachel comes to get me when it's his turn to supervise me.
It's been ten months since we faced the demon of Lust, and since then the six other capital sins have been sent back to Hell. It hasn't been an easy task, we had to be on our guard and quick to react. The demons were careful and did their best to go unnoticed or target areas we weren't watching. Just like Levanael feared, there are too few of us to protect all humankind efficiently.
But we did succeed. We hunted down the demons. Uriel and I have thrown the last of them, Envy, back to Hell. Not without some collateral damage. Envy had already driven mad the Humans in this seaside city when we arrived, and the demon kept shifting from a human body to another to escape from us. In the end, Uriel destroyed the entire city with a hurricane and a tidal wave to trap the enemy while I recited the spell to lock it up in Hell. Uriel's obvious talent for destruction was a surprise.
The objective was achieved thanks to good teamwork. But no Human survived anywhere along the entire coast.
There is blood dripping on the blanket and Anael bends to take a closer look. I can see the child starting to come out in breech position. No wonder the Human female is screeching so loudly if Henok is facing the wrong way. Especially since her hips are rather narrow. At her side, her sister is panicking and trying to pull out the baby's bloodied legs.
"A boy. Just as planned." Anael's relief is quite obvious.
Leading the Garrison and being held responsible of the entire human species while making sure Destiny is respected: this is such a heavy burden resting on Anael's shoulders. If Cain's offspring is to play a great part in the future, it is essential this delivery goes smoothly.
The infant is now out of his mother's body and his skull is already covered in dark hair just like Abel's was. He is wailing vigorously while his exhausted mother passes out. Anael's wings snap open and he flies off immediately, probably to tell the Sisters the error has been successfully fixed.
Cain finally rises to his feet to walk into the house and meet his son, Camael following him with his eyes. There is something in them I can't decipher.
oOo
The Garrison and the Angel Balthazar are summoned by the Archangels in the courtroom of Justice, immediately.
I look up to the sky when I hear the voice resonating through my skull and I unfurl my wings. But Siosp, my brother in charge of supervising me today, remains still as if he didn't hear the call. He has been acting apathetic all day. I glance at him and nudge his arm to urge him to get ready to fly too. He finally tears his eyes off the silent city and shakes his head in dejection.
"All the Humans in my sector, annihilated."
"Siosp, the Archangels are waiting…"
With a swipe from his claws, my brother growls and destroys a house full of human corpses.
He's going to make us late.
"Millions of years watching over them, wiped out in a blink of an eye! My mission…"
"Siosp," I articulate in an abrasive tone.
"What am I going to do now? I had one mission, one single mission!"
"SIOSP!"
His dark blue eyes dart up on me and his wings fluff up with indignation.
"WHAT!" he barks back.
"We have been summoned. We are going to be late unless we leave right away."
His feathers deflate and he nods resignedly. We hurry up flying off.
All eyes converge on us when we appear in the very same courtroom where Camael and I had been accused of treason. A heavy silence greets out late arrival. Michael's cold eyes follow us as we join the rest of the Garrison in the stands facing the three Archangels.
"So," Michael says. "Now that everyone is here, we can begin. Anael?"
Anael stands up, staring ahead unblinkingly.
"Camael informed me that Lucifer has been visiting Cain's dreams to convince him to agree to become his vessel."
Now everyone is looking at Camael. He's standing straight like a fierce soldier, his golden eyes staring into the distance. Only then do I realize how much Camael has changed in the last few years. The Angel of Joy's Grace looks nothing like its past cheerful, fizzing self. His eyes are inexpressive.
"I feared as much," Gabriel says. "Obviously Luci would try to steal our best weapon."
"A weapon? What weapon?" Siosp whispers next to me.
Cain is a potential vessel, but not a weapon. Right?
"I know what you're thinking, Gabriel," Raphael hisses. "We talked about it, and the answer is still no."
"Oh come on, bro! Cain reproduced already, we don't need him anymore!"
"Then let's kill him," Michael intervenes calmly. "Lucifer won't be able to reach Heaven to take control of him."
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Camael freeze just barely.
"Let that poor Human be, Michael," Gabriel huffs. "The Sisters wouldn't be too happy if we kill him off and his death wasn't written. They're already pretty annoyed with what happened with Azazel…"
"It'd still be better than the ridiculous alternative you suggested."
The Archangels are arguing out loud now, as if they forgot we are even here. The air is charged with electricity, quite literally.
"Michael is right, Gabriel. If Cain dies today and rises to Heaven, he'll be at our disposal and out of Lucifer's reach. We could just resurrect him whenever we need him. He is the perfect vessel and none of his offspring would be as high quality as him."
"Raph, Cain served us well and suffered enough already. If we just hide him from Angels and demons, problem solved! No more weapon. And that poor guy will get to live his life in peace!"
"Be quiet, Gabriel. If we use this seal on Cain, we won't ever be able to find him again comes the day we do need him. I'd rather stock a weapon than just throw it away."
"Hm. If I may say…"
Balthazar is standing up, not at all intimidated by the three angry Archangels.
"Why would you stock or throw away a weapon when you could just use it? So Lucifer wants to make his way into Cain's body? Then go ahead and get there first."
Michael motions to Balthazar to keep going.
"Lucifer won't be able to take control of Cain's body if one of you is already inside. Plus, if it comes down to fighting, possessing such a special vessel as Cain will surely give you an advantage."
"What kind of advantage?" Raphael asks, folding his hands.
"Enhanced speed and power, better senses and perception, effortless telekinesis, and the ability to use every seals and spells involving human blood or soul. Moreover, if my calculations are correct, possessing a Human allows us to smite a demon with a single touch, whereas in our true form we can only hurt them or send them back to Hell. To actually kill them off, we'd have to display a massive amount of destructive energy, which is quite draining. Or just use our blade, but you'd agree the size difference is not very practical. A vessel makes it possible to channel our energy, control and use it in an optimal manner. Not to mention the other perks: walking among the Humans without turning them deaf or blind. See, a human vessel such as Cain is like a very sophisticated armor. Humans are made to be our armors. Ideally, in the future we will all have our very own Human to possess."
Michael stares at Balthazar and nods.
"Indeed, that's a possibility."
"Can't we just bring Abel back to life so he could be used as a vessel?" Camael chimes in. "Henok was only just born, Cain needs to raise him now."
Gabriel shakes his head.
"No we can't. Not only would it offend the Sisters of Fate, but Abel isn't qualified to be an efficient vessel. His soul is too fragile. His destiny was to be a victim so Cain could get stronger, nothing more. Why do you think he was even born when the only one we really needed was Cain? It's always been Cain. His blood. His offspring."
Raphael gestures with his hand impatiently.
"We're wasting time with stupid questions. The Human female will manage to raise Henok on her own. Let's get to the point. We need Cain's consent, don't we?"
"Oh, it's just a formality," Balthazar shrugs. "Right, Cam'o?"
Camael's head turns to look at Balthazar.
"Of course. I will speak to Cain about it once this meeting is over."
"Perfect. I will take control of Cain's body myself as soon as he says yes," Michael concludes. "The meeting is over. Check with Anael for further information, he's been made aware of our orders regarding your situation on Earth. Balthazar, come with us."
The four of them unfurl their wings and fly away, leaving the Garrison alone in the courtroom. Anael turns to Camael.
"Camael, there is no time to lose. You've been ordered to convince Cain to say yes to Michael. Go right now."
The Angel of Joy nods, spreads his white wings and flies off with a soft rustling sound.
Siosp walks to our general with a desperate look in his dark eyes.
"Anael, my Humans are dead. All of them, dead! What am I going to do now? Tell me what to do! What are the orders?"
Anael raises a hand to shut him up.
"In response to the recent events, we have new orders. We did lock away a few demons, but Lucifer created a lot more of them and even the Horsemen rallied behind him."
"The Horsemen?" Ecaop tilts his head in confusion.
"Pestilence, War, Famine and Death. They are natural regulators of life. They joined him out of their own will, except for Death that Lucifer had to chain up. And every Horseman can kill us."
Riemu is proof of that. We are not immortal.
Anael continues in a louder voice.
"Lucifer is using them to wipe the Humans out of the Earth, while the Mother of All turns them into bloodthirsty monsters. Our observation mission is suspended, brothers. We are at war now, and we must fight to save as many Humans as we can. Cain's offspring and some other Humans I will show you have to be protected at all cost."
"What about our sectors!?" Siosp harrumphs, obviously still upset about the Humans that died under his watch.
"There are no more sectors! Forget about sectors! Keep on the move, smite any abnormal Human you come across, protect or resurrect the chosen ones, send demons back to Hell, just act first and keep me informed later! We are at war! Let me deal with the administration, and you, act like Warriors of God! And it will remain so until Lucifer is back into his cage."
Anael's piercing gaze focuses on me.
"However, Castiel's punishment still holds. He will constantly be accompanied by one of you."
I nod and step back to stand next to Siosp who's still mumbling something about sectors, and I spread my wings, ready to fight on the battlefield.
"Dismissed!" Anael shouts.
We all take off at once to roam the Earth.
oOo
In the next chapter
"Oh to hell with this! Get out of my way, just leave it to me!"