Previously: The failed Apocalypse has devastated the Earth. At Michael's command, Castiel erased all memory of Camael from Cain's mind. But as he was about to complete his work by reshaping his entire life, Camael interrupts him.

oOo

Rage

Violently thrown back, I snap my wings open to halt the fall so I won't crash into the ground. The air movement it generates blows ashes and embers away from me. The cloud of souls scatters like a swarm of fireflies. I rise up to the sky clutching my wounded forearm where it's bleeding Grace, whilea cold and stunned rage swallows me whole. Camael attacked me. Worse yet, he is compromising my mission. I'll have to do it all over gain should Cain see Angels fighting. My blade materializes into my hand.

From up high, I can see my brother kneeling to check on the Phœnix. Naked and trembling, Cain scrambles back to his feet and stares up in utter terror. Camael reaches out to him, and the Phœnix staggers back, brings his arms up to shield his head and falls to his knees, shaking like a leaf. His eyes are wide open, his face contorted with fear.

"Cain...?" Camael whispers, holding his hand still.

He is distracted, entirely focused on the Phœnix, with his back turned to me. Vulnerable. I could neutralize him without effort.

"… Angels? Are you here to punish me for my crime?"

Voice breaking, Cain lowers his arms and closes his eyes resignedly, as a tear rolls down his cheek smeared with ashes.

It's now or never. Ignoring the seething pain working its way into my forearm, I grip my blade tight and dive to the ground, aiming at Camael's back in order to slice his wings off. He will be easier to subdue and send to rehabilitation once he's pinned to the ground.

But my blade clashes against Camael's with a deafening crash – he whirled around with surprising speed. His face is right in front of mine, and I flinch under his stare filled with pure hatred.

"What did you do to him, Castiel?!"

Narrowing my eyes, I deliver a kick to his body to put some distance between us. I glare at him in silence, walking slowly to circle him, on the lookout for a flaw in his guard. And doing so, I focus my mind to alert the Garrison like Michael ordered me to do, careful not to include Camael in my call.

Camael is attacking me and obstructing my mission. Requesting immediate backup.

"CASTIEL!" Camael roars, snapping his wings open.

His golden eyes are glowing with rage and despair. No soldier of God should be able to feel this. Emotions. Camael really has sunk to a new low.

He's standing in front of Cain, fiercely widening his stance into a defensive posture. For a split second I see myself at the dawn of my life, protecting the crawling fish so my brothers would not step on it. Only now do I notice that one of his hand is holding about a hundred Humans, all sound asleep. What does he intend to do with them?

I need to stall. Camael has gone rogue. He is dangerous.

"I've seen how far you went astray for this creature," I point at Cain. "But you can still get back on the right path. You will be sent to rehabilitation. You will be saved, Camael."

Camael gives out a war cry and pounces on me as fast as lightning. I barely manage to block his first attack, but the second one outstrips me. A scalding hot pain slashes through my chest, setting it ablaze. When did he become so fast? He was nowhere as aggressive when we fought together against the Leviathans!

"What did you do to him?!"

He is pushing me repeatedly, obviously trying to lead me away from Cain.

Hold on, Cas! We're on our way! Anael's voice echoes into my head.

I repel Camael with a wave of concentrated energy, tearing a strangled cry out of him. The effort is burning through my Grace, making the pain grow and intensify.

"I obeyed orders like you should have! You knew he was no longer a Human! All I did was fix your mistakes!" I snarl, our blades clashing against each other again.

I propel myself up to the sky and he follows me like a reflection in a mirror, always standing like a wall between Cain and me.

"Did you erase his memory?" he chokes up, eyes growing wide with madness.

I confirm with a nod, on my guard. Now I understand what the Archangels must have felt when Lucifer rebelled. Why is Camael opposing God's will? He needs to be forced back on track. He has to.

The Garrison will be here soon. Uriel is the strongest out of us all, surely he will bring Camael under control in no time. I just need to hold on for a few more seconds… My Grace is bleeding from my slashed forearm and the wound on my chest. It is dripping down, evaporating into thin air, and there is nothing I can do to stop it. I am losing strength. My head is spinning, but still I maintain my defensive position. Suddenly, too quickly for me to react, Camael charges at me and tackles me to the ground, which causes an earthquake and raises a cloud of ashes. He has snatched my weapon from my hands. My blade catches a ray of sunlight as he tightens his hold, brandishing it above my head.

"Camael..." I whisper, my eyes widening.

No. He would never. Or would he? I know that in theory our blades can kill us. But Camael would never do such a thing. No Angel would do such a thing. We are not like Humans who take pleasure in killing each others for selfish and futile reasons. We are superior, loyal, and we always act in the group's interests and for the Mission. But looking now into his eyes blazing with rage, I'm not so sure of it.

Suddenly, I hear myself screaming in pain as he stabs my left wing down, pinning me to the ground. I can't stir a limb anymore, I'm paralyzed, and he's holding the sharp end of his own blade just above my face, threatening to finish me off if I make a move.

My vision is getting blurry and sounds are growing duller. And soon, I can no longer hear a thing. My Grace is gushing out of my wounds and starting to boil into my body. I'm going to die having failed in my mission.

The look in Camael's golden eyes is hard as steel. He raises his hand holding the Humans, and sharply closes it into a fist. A myriad of souls burst out of it, floating all around as the corners of my vision keep darkening. When he unfurls his fingers, his hand is dripping with bright red blood and he starts using it to draw sigils on the ground.

Behind him there are bright winged figures appearing in the sky. The Garrison. Balthazar. Raphael. Gabriel. They have arrived – they're flying to us.

I try to warn them, struggling and failing to utter a sound.

Camael slams his hand onto the seal just as Uriel is reaching out to grab him.

Too late.

My eyes slide shut as I feel my wings spreading out on the ground, my dying Grace thickening before I'm hurled far, far away.

oOo

"Cas! No, don't you dare die on me!"

Uriel's voice is echoing above me. I pry my eyes open and I find myself staring into his gelatinous, congealed Grace. Everything looks dim, as seen through smoke and fog. Uriel's arms are wrapped around me and his wings are lying lifelessly on the ground. My head lolls back on Uriel's shoulder, now facing three purple eyes peering down at me. He visibly relaxes, relief flooding his eyes when he sees me moving.

Everything is blurry, the world is spinning around me and there's a sharp stab of pain slicing through me like waves. I try to get back on my feet, but immediately get pushed back against Uriel.

"Don't, Castiel. You need to stay still until we get our strength back to call the Archangels or try to heal you ourselves." Anael's eyes narrow into three green slits. "That's an order."

My head seems so heavy that the mere attempt of nodding is enough to drain me out. My sight line widens significantly when the darkness clouding my eyes wears off. Our General is standing with dignity, but his wings are limp, heavily hanging down to the ground. And behind him, several of my brothers are still sprawled on the ashes, struggling to get back to their feet, like giant turtles on their backs.

It's night and the celestial vault is speckled with shimmering stars and wandering souls. Camael obviously sent us halfway across the planet. Standing a bit further, Siosp is desperately trying to straighten his wings up and take flight, but all he manages to do is fly a few hundred meters up before collapsing back down with a frustrated growl, raising an ash cloud around.

"There's no need to waste your energy, my dearest Siosp."

That was Balthazar's silken voice. Lying on his back with his arms crossed under his head, he looks perfectly at ease, distractedly shooing away a bunch of souls with his claws – they seem to be drawn by our brightness.

"We're stuck down here for a few hours or so." Balthazar gazes up at the starry night. "We might as well use the time to get some rest, don't you think? I have to admit, this little Apocalypse tired me out."

Siosp grabs his limp wings with his four hands and drags himself toward us, glaring daggers at Balthazar.

"Get some rest? When our brother is following Lucifer's steps? When he nearly killed Castiel? And the son of Adam and Eve is under the Mother of All's control? When almost all Humans have died, which could mean our mission is no longer necessary? How could we get some rest?!"

Balthazar barely spares Siosp a dispassionate look.

"Well that's a bother. But you see, I'm not part of the Garrison… so guess what?" With a flick of his claws, he sends a soul flying away. "… I don't give a flying fuck!"

Siosp's feathers puff up on his lifeless wings. Anael edgily steps between them, dragging his wings on the ground, staining his feathers with ashes.

"Oh be quiet, both of you! This is really not the time!"

I look down at my own body. My Grace is frozen and therefore no longer bleeding out from my wounds. The banishing sigil is postponing my death, but I seem unable to stop trembling.

"I can't stand up!" Zedekiel groans in frustration, aimlessly thrashing in the ashes.

Miz and Rachel are limping their way to reach him, dragging along their oversized wings.

"Where are Raphael and Gabriel?" I manage to get the words out, looking up at the General.

"I don't know. The banishing sigil's effects might be slightly different on Archangels…"

Upon hearing this, a spark of interest flashes through Balthazar's eyes and he pushes himself upright, humming thoughtfully.

"That's certainly a plausible theory. The Grace of an Archangel might seem similar to ours, but it really is different. Our blades could never kill or even harm an Archangel. Maybe the sigil was less efficient on them…"

Ephra walks closer, a stern look in his eyes.

"Anael... Camael's crimes are of the utmost gravity now. What will be his punishment once we've captured him?"

Anael lowers his eyes. Silence grows heavier in the night as all eyes focus on our General, waiting for the answer.

"He will probably be executed," he finally says in a strained voice.

Still sprawled on the ground, Levanael widens his eyes in bewilderment. Uriel's arms tighten around me.

I close my eyes for a few seconds to suppress any hint of sadness that might grow inside me. It is only fair. Camael disobeyed, lied, attacked a soldier of the Garrison, slaughtered about a hundred Humans that had survived the Apocalypse and used a forbidden sigil on his brothers in arms, his General and two Archangels.

The judgment from Heaven will be just, no matter what it turns out to be.

"No.. Cam has been manipulated by a creature of the Mother of All!" Levanael hisses. "He deserves rehabilitation, he deserves a second chance! Zachariah got one! Anael too! He deserves it!"

Wrong. Cain has never once tried to corrupt his Guardian – quite the opposite, actually – nor has the Mother of All acted through him. Camael brought this all to himself by offering him the devotion he owed to God, and to God only.

I remain silent, though. As long as no one orders me otherwise, I have no reason to condemn my brother with additional charge that would lead him to a certain death. I don't intend to mention it unless I'm asked precisely about this. For orders are orders and I would never disobey a direct order.

Anael ignores Levanael who managed to stand up and keeps protesting.

Still tangled up in his own wings and sprawled on the ground, Htmorda suddenly points at the sky.

"Look!"

Two winged figures radiating blinding light are diving right to us at high speed, sending up ashes twirling all around when they land among us.

Gabriel and Raphael.

Raphael scans the whole group with indecipherable eyes, then walks up to me, reaching out to touch my shoulder. I feel his Grace seeping in and closing my wounds, the pain receding like the tide, leaving only a lingering sensation of heaviness. I disentangle myself from Uriel's arms, stand up, and give the Archangel a short and grateful nod.

"Once you have regained your strength all of you will go back to search for Camael. I will ask for back up immediately."

Just when Anael was about to reply, I hear a rustling of feathers behind me.

"That won't be necessary."

I freeze for a split second at Camael's voice and whirl around, snatching my blade out of Uriel's hands, ready to fight back despite my body weighing heavier than ever and my wings still hanging limply down. Uriel steps forward to shield me, widening his stance into a threatening position while all my brothers get ready for Anael's orders.

I hear Gabriel mutter something under his breath, but am unable to make out the words.

Camael is staring at us calmly with his golden eyes devoid of expression, and wings folded behind his back.

"I surrender."

oOo

A heavy silence reigns in the meeting room. There are only nine of us sitting around the table, that's all that's left of the Garrison now. Our General is standing as still as a mountain, his four hands pressed on the table and his head hanging low.

Balthazar is at his side and doesn't even try to conceal how bored he is as he dusts the ashes off his feathers. There are two other Angels waiting further back that I've never seen before, staring ahead unblinkingly.

Anael raises his green eyes and stiffly straightens his back with dignity.

"Now. Let's start by assessing the situation. A few points remain unclear, so I need you to plainly answer my questions. Then, I will announce a few changes and what our new directives are."

His Grace is flowing freely and looks perfectly neutral.

"The Apocalypse has been stopped as required by the orders. Three soldiers died in battle: Ecaop, Hcoma and Yasen. I need to know how."

"Ecaop attempted to counter Pestilence on his own," Uriel says.

Levanael lowers his gaze. "Hcoma died protecting me."

"Yasen was burned alive with holy fire some traitor most likely provided to demons," Siosp snarls. Most of his left wing's feathers are scorched.

Anael nods sternly.

"The number of traitors has not been provided yet, but I heard whispers that a lot of first or second order Cherubs were involved. The Archangels are currently cutting all of them from Heaven's communication channels and deactivating the holy powers linked to their Graces."

Archangels? Why doesn't God banish them Himself like He did for Azazel? I really want to ask, but dare not to. It would sound like I'm questioning the Lord's actions.

"Why didn't they just deactivate Camael's powers before he went and attacked Castiel?" Uriel asks insolently.

Our rebellious brother's name casts a shadow over the meeting room. The General is glowering, his green eyes glowing with anger.

"They don't tell me much, Uriel," Anael snaps at him. "The Garrison is only just a small section among others and I'm one of the lowest rung in the hierarchy. If you want answers, why don't you ask Zachariah. You'll get to see how much he loves this kind of questions."

Uriel bristles and reluctantly nods.

"As for Camael," Anael continues, "his fate is still undecided. He has been contained in isolation until further notice. One thing is sure, we can no longer consider him as part of the Garrison."

A heavy silence greets these words and most of my brothers lower their eyes.

"Castiel, did Camael say something? Did he join Lucifer's side?"

I turn my head to look at Ephra, but Anael cuts me short before I have a chance to answer: "Not another word about Camael from now on. His name is to be banned from all of your conversations while waiting for his punishment."

I share a meaningful glance with Ephra, then turn to Anael. "Do we know what has become of Cain?"

Anael rolls his eyes resignedly.

"And here I was hoping no one would ask about him. Cain disappeared. Forever. Camael used a sigil that hides him from both Angels and demons."

Ephra narrows his eyes. "Is it the one Gabriel referred to during the trial?"

"The very same."

"At least tell us if Camael could have a chance to get away with just rehabilitation and eventually be reinstated into the Garrison!"

"SILENCE!"

Everyone but Miz jumps, and we all stare at our General in stupor.

"Let me make this clear," he hisses threateningly. "Next one I hear uttering Camael's name will be sent straight to rehabilitation. And take it from me, you won't enjoy it."

He only gets a respectful silence in return. Anael eyes us coldly as to make sure none of us will dare defy him.

"Now," he continues. "As I was saying, the Garrison has suffered great loss. Which brings me to the reason our three brothers are standing behind me."

Anael motions to them to come closer.

"The hierarchy agreed to compensate for our losses in the long term. We will be assigned new recruits within a few hundred years when everything is in order administratively. Considering that the Garrison lost five soldiers since it was created, and the enormous amount of work awaiting us, a temporary solution has been decided. You already know Balthazar…"

The General gestures at the Angel who winks at us.

"… Please welcome him as one of us. He is now officially part of the Garrison, but his primary mission regarding the human vessels remains his priority. He has been chosen to join us, because his mission is directly linked to ours and we could only benefit from our mutual collaboration."

"So now we're stuck with Balthazar!?" Siosp huffs in annoyance. "Why of all Angels did it have to be him?"

"Stop bickering! Let me remind you that you are God's Warriors! We ALL serve Heaven, I won't hear of any squabble between divisions and you better not bring shame on the Garrison!"

Siosp and Balthazar share a look – furious for Siosp, playful for Balthazar – while Anael turns to introduce the two other Angels.

"Hester and Virgil are from the division in charge of terrestrial animals, they will occasionally help in our mission until we get our new recruits."

Both Angels' eyes are gray and pale as they stare unblinkingly in the distance, their posture perfectly still. I wonder if there is something in our behavior that differs from the other divisions. Are we causing trouble for Anael with the hierarchy? No doubt that he's been held responsible for Camael's rebellion…

Balthazar, Hester and Virgil join us around the table, taking the vacant seats of our brothers killed in action. Anael sits down as well, slowly folding his hands on the table.

"I am sure you are aware that Humans nearly went extinct for good. There's only about a hundred of them still alive all around the world. Lucifer's plan was to kill them all, collect and lock their souls in Hell to turn them into demons so we wouldn't be able to bring them back to life. As you have seen, millions of souls are currently wandering all over the surface of the planet. As a reward to Michael for setting him free, Death is granting us a year. One year to the day during which none of his Reapers will collect souls, during which we will be free to resurrect as many Humans as we can. We are few and the task is complex, but if we work hard we can make it. I will give you a list of priority souls to resurrect. For this reconstruction mission we will need to work hand in hand with the other divisions. The entire planet has to be revived."

Wings twitching, Siosp is leaning forward with bright eyes as he listens intently to our General's words.

"Moreover, we will have to erase their most recent memories. We don't want them to fear us or even know we exist. Ten of you will be in charge of the resurrections and will erase the memories, while the others will rebuild their habitations and make sure they go back to their previous lives like the Apocalypse never happened at all. If my estimations are correct, each one of you should be able to bring back to life at least a hundred Humans a day."

"May I have the permission to handle the resurrections in my sector first? I know everything about every single Human who lived there, as well as their organization, architecture –"

"Permission granted, Siosp. I know how much you value your primary mission. But you'll join the others as soon as your task there is completed."

Beaming, Siosp nods eagerly.

"Last thing before we close this meeting, I officially announce that Castiel's punishment has been lifted. The Archangels cleared his name, since the recent events proved Camael was the only one to blame. You will no longer need to keep a watch on him from now on. Castiel, you will supervise Hester for this year of resurrection work. Uriel, you'll be in charge of Virgil. Let's get to work, starting now! Go!"

oOo

In the next chapter (next sunday, march 8th)

"Who are we to decide who gets to live and who doesn't?"

"Angels, Castiel. We are the arm of the Lord and agents of Destiny."