Ep.8 Finale
-Do we all agree that we can see her?- whispered Dean, holding his breath, trying his best not to scare that deer away; Bobby and Sam nodded.
She stood up, smiled at them, and walked to Sam -How is my favorite patient…- but could not finish her sentence. Dean intercepted and grabbed her by her face, squeezing with both hands.
-Are you really here?- he went full Batman's voice, staring hard into her eyes.
-Mumumumumu…- She tried to speak, but again, Dean cut her off.
-WHERE THE HECK HAVE YOU BEEN?- Dean demanded. She disappeared and reappeared behind Sam, using him as a shield.
-You, sir, are getting way too comfortable around me…- Abaddon hissed, her gaze fixed on Dean. -I don't think I appreciate that. You know I can snap you out of existence, right?- She then does a closer inspection. Dean was looking more like a vagrant than a hunter – wrinkled clothes, messy hair, dark bags under his eyes – Dean shifted uncomfortably under her inquisitive eyes.
-Hmm, you look a little tired, Dean…- she purred, reaching into her pocket. But before she could offer him whatever it was she intended, Sam turned around, a look of relief washing over his face. He leaned towards her, engulfing her in a tight hug.
-Humm… okay?- she said awkwardly, her feet barely skimming the ground as she struggled to keep up. Suddenly, Dean walked up to them both and embraced them in a warm hug, a rare display of affection from the usually gruff hunter. Abaddon heard a soft sigh of relief coming from him.
-hmm…guys, you are acting very weird…Bobby…help?- Abaddon implored.
Bobby took a deep breath, walked up to them, and hugged them all. Abaddon's head was perched on Sam's shoulders, her gaze fixed on the ceiling. As she smiled, her iris cleared, and her green eyes turned gold. She grew taller; her feet reaffirmed on the ground, her wings extended over them, filling the entire room with a warm light.
-I am sorry Sam…- she whispered as she reached his temples. She passed her thumbs over his eyes, holding his face. -Don't ever lose sight of your reality…- she said as she stepped back away from them. Everything seemed to return to normal.
The Aby in front of them was the first Abaddon, the one they met back in that crazy other dimension. Except she was wearing a trench coat like Castiel. She wore a black tie, white shirt, and jeans. She wore her light brown-blonde hair in two ponytails, letting the long curls cascade over her shoulders.
-I bet you want to know when Castiel is going to make his appearance…?- she smiled at them.
Bobby and Sam looked around. Dean was the only one that held Abaddon's gaze.
-He is the reason why I am here…-
-Is he still in trouble, or did he get into more trouble?- Dean asked wearily.
-Aside from the usual while trying to save you? Yeah, he is into more trouble because he is still stubbornly trying to save me…- Abaddon's voice was devoid of its usual mocking lilt; her gaze fixed on the hunters with an unsettling intensity. -I need help...- she finally asked.
The hunters sighed and looked at each other. There were no questions in their eyes about what they wanted to do next.
-The catch?- Bobby asked with a smile.
-I need an infiltration team…Small, won't attract attention to themselves, swift and precise…I need African ants…-
Dean smiled. He remembered that conversation all too well. Sam and Bobby blinked at her.
-The details?- Dean continued.
-Castiel has been made a prisoner. I need help to retrieve him…-
-Prisoner? By who?- Sam interrupted.
-Raphael…- was her simple answer. A collective sigh passed through the hunters as they looked at one another.
-What happened exactly at the lab, Aby? – Bobby approached her.
-I am pretty sure you have guessed it by now….-
-Not the full story- Bobby pulled the scale from his pocket; he has been carrying it all this time, always keeping it on himself.
-Oh! Yeah, we got help from a native back then… She sent her regards, by the way…-
-Wait! What is that?- Dean and Sam approached.
-A scale?- Dean asked, looking at Bobby's hand, puzzled.
-A scale…from a siren….- Sam guessed correctly, looking at Abaddon and Bobby.
-And you find this at the lab?- enquired Dean, his tone getting upset. -Why didn't you tell us?-
-What would you have done if I told you I found a scale of our favorite siren in a place where our friend, the mighty angel, was supposed to be cracking purgatory open for all monsters to come to the free buffet…- Sam and Dean said nothing, their eyes fixed on Bobby, a look of apprehension swirling within them.
-She is now our favourite siren…?- Dean murmured to Sam.
-You bet! -Bobby retorted, pointing at him, and turned to Abaddon -What happened exactly? What did you do to her? Aby. What was she doing in that place with you and Cas?- his voice rushing, trying to catch up with the thought of his head. He had so many questions. Has run the scenarios so many times. Why was a monster siding with angels, of all things?
-You think I did something to your ex? Brainwash her, perhaps?- she snickered.
-Don't joke about this…You raised her from the dead, but to what end? She was there with you both at the lab, but doing what? You both cut her open for the instructions to open purgatory, so what gives?- Bobby was visibly upset.
Abaddon exhaled, her eyes gleaming with an unsettling intensity- You all see Castiel as this harmless angel, this aloof, fluffy guardian. But let me remind you, angels… we're warriors. Castiel? He's a soldier. Highly trained and an incredible strategist. Don't ever forget that…We do what we must…for the best outcome…for king and country…- her voice was raspy as she looked like she was reminiscing on something.
The hunters exchanged uneasy glances. They remembered Castiel's initial appearance – harsh, direct, a soldier through and through, but those rough edges melted away somehow as they got to know each other, or so they thought.
Abaddon continued, her voice a chilling whisper -Unlike you, who exterminated everything in your wake, we are more methodical. There are advantages to sparing the lives of monsters if you get the time to ask…what is their motivation? - Abaddon paced around them, her hands on her back-... you see, dear Eleanor had plenty of time to master the knowledge of portals. She is such a smart girl; she was not killing for the sake of it. She gathered every last piece of information as she disposed of anyone with the bare minimum knowledge...-
-So, you are using her…to what end? - Bobby interrupted, feeling a chill in his back. Were angels always this cold and calculated? Bobby asked himself.
-No Bobby…I just asked her what her motivation was…- Abaddon simple responded -and she has plenty of motivations…-
-So, you saved her, and now she is working for you? Is that what is expected from us as well? You save Sam, and suddenly, we have to align with your wishes? - Dean retorted.
-Dean! - Sam scolded him.
-No, Sam, she obviously did something to you just now; only we have the foggiest idea of what her motivations are…mind if we join the club now?- Bobby turned at Abaddon.
- You are asking for MY motivation?- Abaddon answered back, a hint of mock and wonder in her tone -I was just conceding a last wish – she answered with a half smile -To undo the harm he inflicted upon you.- She looked at Sam and then glanced over his shoulder where Satan was standing, but no one else could see him except Sam.
-Unfortunately, since you have willingly accepted yourself back, it is not in my power to block all the memories again, and deleting them is useless. That would make you forever incomplete…your mind will be trapped looking for that missing piece in an eternal loop of loss and despair…who has time for that?…-
-What did you do to him?- Dean demanded.
-If you think I magically tweak his brain…I didn't, Dean; that is not how humans work, at least I understand that much…even if they are painful, memories and experiences become essential parts of their self; destroying or blocking them will just mangle the soul…I wouldn't want that for you, Sam, so I gave you the means to conquer them…but the end result will still depend on you…- Something of a proud look on her eyes as she looked at Sam -Have you ever wondered what your little request to Castiel has done to Ben and Lisa?…-
-Aby!- Bobby scolded her, his voice sharp. She backed away.
-I know…you have been helping Sam with whatever he is dealing with up until now; I know you have…- He glanced at Sam, who gave him a quiet, grateful smile. Dean was looking at Sam, his eyes full of sadness and questions.
-I am… I want to be grateful for all of it…to you, and I also want to believe you saved Eleanor to give her her best second chance- Bobby continued, his voice rising slightly as his frustration grew. -But both of you, you and Cas…balls! Lately, your behaviors have been… well, mind-bending, sketchy at best…- Bobby was trying his best to measure his words.
Abaddon scoffed -You believe your god is sketchy… What do you expect of its creation? Look, I am not here to fight. I just broke out of purgatory. I could have marched back home like that numbskull told me to. I could have done just that: Sneak here, fix Sam, and vanish without a trace, like morning mist. You wouldn't even miss me. But I am far more selfish than Castiel is. Like, I'm ever going to let him quietly rot in purgatory just because that's what he believes he deserves… He's a knucklehead, and I am not done with him. I am going to pluck his sorry ass back to earth and let him have it…only I can't do it by myself…-
-Is that where you all have been all this time? Purgatory?- Dean approached.
Abaddon sharply exhaled – yes…We turned on Crowley, the newbie king of the underworld, took it at heart, and ran back to Raphael, of course Castiel had already predicted this; we were counting on it; we needed to lure Raphael out…-
Abaddon remembers as she stood behind Castiel, back at that laboratory. She (both Phoenix/Abaddon and Balthazar/Abaddon) glanced at Eleonor, who quietly nodded back. Abaddon's eyes looked up, every inch of that place covered by unsuspecting angels and demons.
Abaddon smiled; in a matter of seconds, Eleonor had opened the portal; she didn't need a spell to do so. Just with a snap of her fingers, but instead of Castiel swallowing down whatever was to pour out, they were all instead sucked in. The whole place was suck clean.
-How bad is the situation?- Bobby asked.
-As bad as it can be: A powerful archangel has allied himself with half the monsters in purgatory by promising them freedom. The whole place is divided…your ex-girlfriend is a sneaky one… – she winked at Bobby – So much power and influence… But still, this is an archangel against an angel. You can tell where the winning bets are; even demons are now grossing those ranks…-
-Demons? Crowley! Is Crowley there as well?- Sam asked.
Abaddon nodded.
-Okay then…- Bobby rasped -What can two lousy humans do for you against all this? -Dean and Sam staggered at Bobby.
Abaddon touched the top of her head, and from thin air, a mask materialized; it was a mask resembling a phoenix, gold and red; she adjusted it on her head so it was sideways.
-I have something of a hidden card on my sleeve - she smiled at them. - I just need my African ants to turn the tables around…- the smile faded as she approached them- Look I…I did not know where else to go… I came here hoping Castiel had some friends still left…-
Dean sighed. Bobby and Sam looked at her, their eyes conveying a shared understanding.
-Of course he has….and so do you…- Dean declared, folding his arms. Abaddon's eyes opened wide, looking at him; she was surprised.
-How many people would you need exactly?- asked Bobby -I could gather a team in a few calls…-
-yeah, it sounds like a monumental task infiltrating a supernatural battlefield…- commented Sam, sounding more excited than worried despite his better judgment.
-Something like a heist, right? We would at least need two or three more people…- Dean replied, a grin spreading across his face, mirroring Sam's excitement.
-You three will be more than enough…- Abaddon stated comfortably.
-Us three?- Bobby repeated – You mean you and the boys, right?- Abaddon returned a stern look with a smile. – Oh no, you're kidding! Look at me, Aby….I don't have their strength anymore; you three will be running ahead of me while I'll be wheezing at the back….-
-You three will do fine – Abaddon stepped closer to Bobby, her gaze unwavering – I need someone grounded who can guide these two through the trenches…. It's not going to be pretty, and I am not going to be able to hold your hands all the way…-
Dean snickered – We have seen plenty of gruesome…We can handle ourselves-
-Not this level…No…not ever- Bobby muttered, his eyes glued to Abaddon.
-Would you come with me to save a hopeless friend…? Would you help me?- She raised her hand at Bobby.
Bobby looked at the boys standing behind her; they both smiled and nodded at him.
-All right….if you think I can be of any help, I will come along…- Bobby gave in. When he took her hand, time immediately turned back; his body was now the same age as Sam and Dean.
-Wow!- they both exclaimed at the same time.
-What?- Bobby asked, confused. Abaddon gave him a smile and walked away. Bobby looked around, finding his reflection in a window's glass -Wow!- he exclaimed. Not only was he back in his twenties- thirty-something self, but he was also wearing something like an armored uniform, all in black with a helmet and something similar to night vision goggles.
-Just a little grateful bonus, it won't last long…We go now!- announced Abaddon. Bobby turned around at Dean and Sam. They were all wearing the exact same thing.
-Wow!- they all three said.
-I will strongly recommend from this point on never to remove those goggles, no matter what…There are, how do I say this…plenty of naked supernatural beings down there; you wouldn't want to take a peek by mistake and fry your eyes in the process – she warned them with a smile.
She was also wearing a similar outfit now but no goggles, just the mask on her head.
-How do we get there?- asked Sam-Are we going back to Crowley's?-
-Wait for the moon to come up and then what?- Bobby reminded him – We would still need an eclipse…-
-Children…please settle down- Abaddon called – As I said before, there are advantages in sparing the lives of creatures. Monsters can only do so much but give their knowledge to angels…-
Abaddon stood up in front of them. She raises her hands. They could see red marks appear on her open hands, crawling all the way back to her arms. She herself had become a portal embedded in the strange glyphs.
As soon as she waved her hands, a doorway opened behind her. She smiled at them as she let herself fall into it. Then, the portal moves to the hunters and swallows them all.
The wind whipped at their faces as they found themselves freefalling after Abaddon in a boundless open sky.
- Hey, look! Over there…- They could all hear Abaddon so clearly that it felt like she was talking directly to their minds. They all looked down at her, following the direction of her outstretched finger. In the distance, a menacing darkness was rising from the ground, like a storm brewing on the horizon. Lightning flickered within its depths, illuminating a terrifying figure – a colossal shadow looming over the landscape.
- That's where we're heading, said Abaddon.- she was not shouting. Her voice came to them in a normal tone of conversation.
-Is that…Is that Raphael?- Sam asked. His voice almost whispered, but everybody heard him loud and clear.
Another portal opens, and they fall through. Consecutively, more portals opened, and they crossed them one after another until they no longer found themselves falling but floating. They all landed safely finally on the ground. It was pitch dark. The light in their shoulders automatically activated.
They see Abaddon way ahead of them, so they quickly move after her. They could hear something like a murmur going on, and as they progressed, the noise became louder and louder. It never stops.
Abaddon waited at the end of what looked like a cave opening. They hurried to meet her. It was like coming out of a bottle. All those noises suddenly become clear and deafening. It was the sound of war.
Abaddon walked out. The group found themselves at the top of a high mountain.
The battlefield was still very far away, but from there, they got a glimpse of what was coming ahead.
The air was filled with angels and demons, all fighting one another. A black mass moved and twisted down on the ground, a bunch of monsters running amok, rendering everything in its path to waste—thousands more creatures battling gruesomely against demons and angels alike. The earth was running with rivers of blood, and at the very back, a giant shadow was raised above all.
-Raphael- breathed Abaddon. The hunters were struck, looking at the giant wipe everything airborne or on earth with single swipes.
-Have you….have you been fighting that…all this time?- Dean asked with a raspy voice, admiring the amount of destruction down at his feet. The earth was fed up with that war. There was nothing in that barren landscape except bodies and blood. The hunters swallowed hard.
-Well, this looks a little overwhelming…- said Bobby, his voice unwavering. Dean and Sam nodded along with him.
Abaddon chuckled, -Nothing to fear…- Her eyes, cold and predatory, lingered on the giant creature stomping on the field. -I am going to open a path for you; follow it, and you will find Castiel at the very end….All I ask… All you need to do is free him…- She swept her gaze through the grounds, a chilling smile playing on her lips.
-Here are a few simple rules: Do not stray from the path. Do not hesitate to kill anything that approaches you.- She turned to them, the smile widening. -The best way to get rid of whatever comes your way would be a shoot to the head.-
In a blink, the hunters found themselves fully equipped, armed to the teeth with the finest weaponry imaginable. Each hunter held a firearm perfectly suited to their individual style and preferences, a chilling testament to Abaddon's foresight.
Dean had the heaviest of them all, Bobby had a hunter's riffled with a telescopic sight, and Sam had something in between them both. They also found themselves packed with all sorts of goodies: salt, holy water, blessed knives. You name it, they got it.
-I have provided you with unlimited ammunition. Do not hesitate to use everything at your disposal; whatever you need, you have. – Abaddon assures them. The hunters went eagerly through their pockets, acknowledging what they had.
-Here, Bobby!- she handed him another scale. Bobby observed that It was carved in sigils. -Eleonor wanted me to give you this- Bobby took it and smiled.
He recognized the sigils. He knows what it was. He placed it in his chest pocket on the left side. Suddenly, they felt something like rain falling. It wasn't cold, strangely warm. Sam looked up at the dark sky, but there were no clouds. He wiped the substance off his face, only to find it was blood. He exchanged a look with Bobby; apprehension mirrored in their eyes. Dean, too, looked visibly disturbed.
Abaddon looked at them, her expression grim. -I'll be bait for you… Just make sure you make it to the end…-
With a flourish of her hand, another portal shimmered into existence before them. Through the swirling vortex, they could see the chaos of the battlefield – a maelstrom of motion punctuated by the screams of the wounded and the clang of steel.
-This is where we part ways… I am going to get you as near as I can, from there you just need to made your way to Castiel…-
With a chilling smile, Abaddon stepped through the swirling portal. The hunters, hearts pounding, followed her close behind. The rain of blood intensified, quickly soaking them.
Emerging from the portal, they were met with a breathtaking and terrifying sight. In the distance, the imposing silhouette of Raphael loomed, blotting out much of the sky. His head, or whatever passed for a head on such a colossal being, was obscured by the swirling storm clouds, barely visible against the tumultuous backdrop.
-There!- Abaddon pointed towards the base of the colossal figure.
The hunters strained their eyes, finally spotting a solitary figure kneeling in a desolate wasteland below Raphael. Nothing dared to approach, the air around him heavy with an oppressive silence. Castiel, bound and broken, knelt with his head bowed, his wings seemingly useless against the crushing weight of his captivity.
-This is it, right?- asked Sam to Dean, standing next to him, holding his gun to his chest.
-You bet your bottom buck, Sam…We follow Bobby; you keep the left, I keep the right. We take care of each other's back… as we practice- Dean smiled and went to join Bobby and Abaddon.
-Like we practice? When did we practice this?- Sam rushes after Dean.
The hunters found themselves thrust into the heart of a gruesome battle. Raphael was not the only giant looming over the landscape. Other monstrous beings, though not as colossal as the archangel, towered over the hunters, their size overshadowing them into insignificance. This time, not even Sam was a contestant. The hunters felt like insects amidst a stampede of elephants, utterly outmatched and hopelessly outnumbered. But, despite the situation, they were hunters at heart, and the whole thing made their hearts rush.
Abaddon separated from them and went ahead. She runs to the battlefield. As she did, her hands glowed, and a pair of guns materialized. She started shooting nonstop. Her wings extended, and she all glowed with a gold light. Everything around turned at Abaddon.
The hunters could see a clear path ahead of them. They made haste and rushed down the path, only to be met by a ferocious onslaught of demons and monsters.
It was a reflex, a primal response. Bobby, at the forefront, roared and opened fire, Dean and Sam flanking him, their weapons a blur of motion. The air crackled with dark energy as they fought back the relentless tide.
Further ahead, a sudden flame erupted, piercing the darkness like a defiant beacon. Abaddon, a solitary flare against the night, soared into the sky, diving headlong into the writhing mass of enemies.
Thousand of bodies started to rain down on the hunters. They pressed on.
The path was not a straight line on the floor. It was more of a soft gold light indication.
The hunters fired relentlessly as they moved on, each shot a response to Bobby's terse commands. They moved as one, a silent choreography honed from countless hunts. Sam's mind flashed back to those days with Bobby, stalking prey through dense woods, learning to read the subtle shifts in his posture, the flick of his wrist. Now, those lessons were a lifeline. It was as Dean had said – like they had practice but at a high speed.
Three tiny figures danced through the monstrous chaos, A hazy rush as they evaded razor-sharp claws and snapping jaws with practiced ease. They flowed through the battlefield, Bobby's seasoned experience guiding their every step. He was a master tactician, each move calculated with cold precision, every risk weighed in the blink of an eye.
Bobby wasn't operating solo. He knew the Winchesters; he had witnessed their transformation from raw recruits to seasoned hunters. He wasn't leading a pair of greenhorns into the abyss. He trusted them implicitly, and he used their abilities to their fullest potential.
Meanwhile, up above their heads. Abaddon fights Raphael; she is a clear star in the sky. Bobby kept an eye on her. She was battling the archangel herself, followed by whatever remained of Castiel's troops at that moment.
The path seems to be taking them directly to Raphael. His figure was becoming taller and taller as they moved in.
Abaddon's strikes were a relentless barrage, a whirlwind of furious blows. She pressed the attack, finally breaking Raphael's defenses and sending him reeling. With a forceful push, she shoved him clear of Castiel's vicinity seconds before the hunters reached them.
The hunters closed in, Bobby's signal a warning to tread lightly. They surveyed the desolate arena, their eyes darting, searching for any sign of danger. Castiel was bound to a thick, splintered beam, driven deep into the scorched earth. A wide, empty ring surrounded him, devoid of life, not even the remnants of the fallen. A lingering, burnt odor permeated the air. Castiel was eerily alone.
The hunters exchanged uneasy glances. This was wrong. Too quiet. Too open. A prisoner left alone in a barren expanse? It didn't make sense. Everything around that circle was dead. Pile and piles of bodies all around it but straight clear from that circle.
There was no time to take it even more slowly. Abaddon would not be able to hold an archangel by herself for much longer. All they needed to do was free Castiel; there was nothing else; it was as simple as that.
Dean broke the tension, sprinting towards Castiel, gun leading the way. Bobby, matching his determination, surged after him. He signaled Sam to cover Dean's flank, then assumed a vigilant guard, his gaze sweeping the surroundings.
Dean approached the solitary figure of Castiel. His head was bowed, his eyes sealed shut, shrouded in an unsettling stillness. He showed no sign of detecting their presence.
- Cas…- Dean called softly.
Castiel was a bloody mess. Rags hung from his cut and bruised body. His swollen, disfigured face featured a pulsating purple eye covered in blood. He was unconscious.
Dean walked up to him, pulling his blessed knife out. He noticed he wasn't even chained; he was just roped. Dean quickly cut the ropes holding Castiel's feet.
-You came…- he heard Castiel's voice ever so softly.
-I am here, buddy…you are coming home with us, okay so… hold tight…- Dean replied, his voice full of emotion as he quickly cut one of his arms free. Castiel fell on Dean heavily. Dean tried to reach his other hand. Castiel grunted in pain.
-Sam!- Dean called, and Sam came quickly, helping him cut Castiel finally free.
Castiel tried to stand up, but his feet were beyond broken. They were two masses of blood and skin.
-You came… – Castiel rasped, his voice a broken whisper, a flicker of relief in his pain-filled eyes. Dean held him close, a fierce protectiveness surging through him. -Don't you ever…doubt it…- he whispered back, his voice thick with emotion, as he draped one of Castiel's arms over his shoulders.
Sam mirrored his actions, and together, they hoisted Castiel to his feet. Despite the agony etched on his face, a faint smile flickered through the blood and grime.
Bobby joins them. -Why are you not healing Castiel…- he asked hurriedly.
-This place…-Castiel answered heavily – It's poisoned…-
-What?- asked Sam, worried – What do you mean poison?-
-No angel, demon, or monster could approach…This whole area is contaminated with poison…-The hunters looked at each other, dreading they would soon start to feel the effects.
-It's a slow painful death sentence for supernatural beings….Only, it does not affect humans…- Castiel explained.
The hunters understood Abaddon's whole point. While purgatory corroded even the mightiest angel's grace. To humans, it was merely...stale. Humans were a weapon Raphael hadn't considered. In this realm of shadows and monsters, they were the anomaly, the wild card. They could move unseen, untouched, while the supernatural bled and withered within its deadly traps.
-Are you gonna be fine?- Dean asked Castiel, his grip tightening on the angel's arm, a raw edge of worry in his voice.
Castiel turned, his one good eye glistening in the dim light. -Now that you are here, I will... It's just going to take me a little longer- A faint, wavering smile appeared on his broken lips.
-Then we move out of here- Bobby said, and they all rushed back to the path. Sam and Dean followed Bobby with their guns, ready in one hand and Castiel in the other.
Just as they stepped out of the circle, when they had barely ten steps into the path, they felt something was going terribly wrong.
-Dean!- Sam's voice called alarmed.
Up in the sky, Abaddon crossed it like a shooting star, crashing hard not too far from where the hunters were. Immediately, everything around the hunters went dark and dead silent.
A gigantic hand was above them, about to smash them. Sam and Dean dropped to the floor, protecting Castiel, ready for the impact. But it never came.
An alarming thud, a deafening clang of metal against something impossibly strong, reverberated through the battlefield. They opened their eyes to find themselves within a shimmering dome of greenish light. Outside of the dome, the gigantic hand was recoiling back into the darkness. Bobby's face was strained, beads of sweat trickling down his forehead as he held up Eleonors scale. It was an all-protection device crafted for such an occasion.
Raphael was looming over them, his eyes glowing with celestial power, a cruel smirk playing on his lips; he had finally found them and was not about to let them go.
With a snap of his fingers, the whole space filled with a cacophony of demonic growls, angelic screeches, and monstrous roars, their claws and teeth reaching for the dome.
Only protected by that dome, the hunters looked around at the situation; They were surrounded.
Dean's jaw was clenched, Sam's eyes were darting around the mass of creatures, and Bobby's grip tightened on the scale, knuckles white. The greenish light pulsed erratically, the thin barrier feeling like nothing more than a soap bubble, as the mass of creatures approached, an unnerving silence amplifying their predatory intent.
Sam was scanning near Raphael's shape when he noticed the figure of Crowley standing by. Crowley's eyes fell in that moment on Sam; he did not smile; he looked up at the giant and then quietly disappeared. -That was odd- Sam thought.
Bobby gave the signal to the boys to ready themselves; he felt it in his bones that something was about to change. Dean and Sam quickly stood up, Castiel in between them.
-So be it…- the boys heard Castiel's voice; it was very low, finely audible. They thought he was just mumbling in his pain. But then Castiel affirms his feet on the ground and puts himself up.
Dean and Sam let go of him as he was finally able to walk. He wabbled in the direction they saw Abaddon fall.
He exhaled sharply; he was very tired and hurt, but nevertheless, he walked all the way to the dome's edge. Every step becomes steadier; his footprint left a trail filled with blood.
-I accept…- he says in her direction.
Suddenly, a mountain of bodies fell apart, and Abaddon rose from beneath them. She was covered in blood; she slowly stood up, breathing heavily. A smile drew beneath the blood.
-Give me a break…- she muttered.
Raphael flinches, his eyes widening in disbelief all heads turned round in her direction. Everything was attentively looking at the tiny figure, her eyes blazing with an ancient power. She stood up defiantly at Raphael.
She raises her hand, and as she does, from beneath the floor, a giant scepter erupts, a thunderous roar shaking the very ground, clearing another mountain of rotting bodies right beside Abaddon.
The scepter was gigantic and as thick as a tree. Nevertheless, Abaddon put her hand on it and wielded it like it was some kind of air balloon.
As she reaffirmed the scepter, etched with ancient runes, back on the scorched earth, the whole place trembled, cracks spiderwebbing across the ground, a low rumble echoing through the field. Demons, monsters, and angels recoiled from the sudden power shift. It wasn't an empty scepter; that thing was as heavy as it looked.
She finally put on the mask of the Phoenix and burst into flames.
-GIVE ME A BREAK!- she roared at Raphael, her voice a command that cracked through the air. Instantly, the battlefield shuddered. Every fallen creature: demon, angel, and monster, jerked back to life. A macabre army of corpses turned, their lifeless eyes locking onto Raphael.
At Abaddon's command, they all rally as one towards him.
The innumerable masses ran furiously, a chorus of guttural clicks and hiss filling the air. As they launch at Raphael, their bodies change. Their skin became dark as shadows, their hollow eyes, with a cold white light shining at the back, their teeth sharpened like razors, and armor-like scales, cold and hard, covered their limbs and torso. Gigantic tails, like scorpions, spread out from their backs, twitching menacingly.
The air became polluted as so many creatures rushed to attack Raphael. A thick cloud of dust covered the field. The visibility became almost nulled. The hunters could see only shadows moving in the midst of it, now a gigantic sandstorm. The battle noises resumed, but this time, the hunters could only hear it, not see it.
Castiel was standing still in the brim of the dome. From the darkness of the howling storm, a silhouette finally made itself visible. A pair of glowing eyes approached them. Sam and Dean prepared their guns, but only Castiel and Bobby remained expectant. Abaddon emerged, walking with a steady pace, her expression unreadable in the flickering light. She went directly to Castiel and stood before him. She did not enter the dome. They both stared at each other.
She smiles, a knowing, almost sad smile. In her hand, there was no scepter anymore but a long, heavy-looking sword, its blade shimmering with the whitest light.
-Okay…- she said to Castiel and immediately handed the sword to Castiel. Castiel's eyes were locked onto hers. He reached for the sword and took it.
As he took the sword, the blade pulsed with white light; he was instantly cured; a wild surge of power, ancient and familiar, overtook him. His eyes burst into flames as his hair, and his whole body heated up like iron put into a flame. He holds the sword against his chest and closes his eyes, letting himself be filled with these forces, the weight of a thousand battles settling upon his soul. His wings burst out of his back, each feather shimmering with an ethereal light. They unfurled so beautifully, opening to their full length, their tips catching the light like polished silver.
A wave of warmth washed over the hunters standing behind him, a comforting embrace amidst the encroaching darkness. They stood transfixed, awestruck.
Dean could only see his back, his humungous wings casting a shadow over him that, for some reason, felt comforting and, at the same time, frightful. This was a Castiel he had never seen. By now, he thought he had seen his many faces, but nothing like this. It was like he just powered up into another whole form.
Dean felt this angel was completely out of reach. He felt he was looking at a Castiel from a very far distance, an unapproachable star. Dean swallowed hard. He knew Castiel was powerful; only he never sat to consider the extent of the meaning of his power.
-Darn you, Aby…- he muttered, a nervous smile drawing on his face as he remembered her words. -You all see Castiel as this harmless angel, this aloof fluffy guardian. But let me remind you… He's a soldier...-
With a powerful beat, the wings lifted him skyward, and in a blink, Castiel was gone. Like Abaddon before him, he was now the start in the darkest night. The hunters felt the incredible gush of wind. All they could do was to guard their faces.
Above them, they see Castiel hurtled toward Raphael. The impact, a thunderous boom, reverberated through the very bedrock of the plane, shaking the earth beneath their feet. A fierce gust of wind tore across the area, forcing the hunters again to shield their faces, but this time, they had to drop to their knees to keep themselves from being swept away.
The blast of air was strong enough to clear the whole area. They all looked up just in time to see Raphael recoil backward as a cloud of dust covered them all again.
The war raged, and Abaddon's forces were gaining allies in their ranks in a matter of seconds. Anything that crossed those creatures' paths was instantly killed, only to be revived as one of them and rejoined the battle.
Meanwhile, Castiel was joined by his remaining forces. They re-grouped around him and were merciless, attacking Raphael directly.
Castiel and Raphael's clashes rumbled the earth. The archangel found himself unable to resist him. Every strike made Raphael back up.
-Time to go…- they hear Abaddon's voice clearly despite all the battle commotions. They turned around to see her being swallowed up by the sandstorm. She smiles and winks at them as she disappears, but not completely. They can see her silhouette.
As she fades away, two additional arms burst from Abaddon's silhouette. She ascended, instantly matching Raphael's towering stature. From the swirling dust, she arose as a colossal titan, her arms blossoming outward like the petals of a deadly flower. The phoenix mask now obscured her entire face, and a golden corona, a broad, crown-like halo, radiated around her head, a divine echo of bygone eras.
Unlike any angel the hunters had seen, she was arrayed in a gold and scarlet gown akin to the resplendent robes of Indian gods, intricately woven and richly adorned, catching the faint, eerie light of Purgatory. Her six wings unfurled, casting a majestic shadow that suffused the barren terrain with a gentle, celestial luminescence.
Raphael is struck with horror as another giant emerges and joins the fight by Castiel's side. He is still pounding mercilessly against Raphael's celestial form.
Both angels unleashed a coordinated assault, a whirlwind of devastating blows. A savage star, a colossal giant, and tons of silly scorpions are overpowering him. Their venomous stingers constantly prick at his ankles, driving him mad.
The dust started to finally settle. The hunters get a full view of the battle ahead. They are mesmerized by the whole scene.
- Hey girls!- they hear a voice calling over them – Are we having a moment? If you are done fan droowling over your new favorite action figure, could we please get a move on? Some of us have places to be-
They turned around to find a battle-scarred jeep, its windshield cracked and headlights shattered, parked behind them. At the wheel, Eleanor, her eyes narrowed with impatience, gave them a sardonic grin.
At that very moment, a swarm of monsters came rushing out of the dust at them. The hunters ran to the car. Bobby jumped to the copilot's seat. Sam and Dean slide into the back.
Bobby's gaze lingered on the stunning creature beside him, a sense of familiarity stirring within him. Though her form was altered, he knew her. Eleanor, in turn, recognized the man before her, a younger version of the Bobby she held dear. They locked eyes in silence. Sam and Dean, witnessing the unspoken connection, exchanged awkward glances.
-Hey, love birds, enough with the staring contest! Can we postpone the tender reunion for, say, after we're not surrounded by monsters? I'd prefer to escape this hellhole sometime now while we are still alive.- Dean's sharp tone snapped them, shattering the moment.
-Oh boy! Does Abaddon know her game…- Eleonor commented, smiling playfully, checking Bobby up and down, and winked at him. He immediately went red to the face and coughed, turning at the window. Sam snickered while Dean rolled his eyes, but he was amused in the same way.
Eleonor put the pedal to the metal, and the car sprinted away with the horde of monsters right at their heels.
The jeep bounced in the uneven terrain. Creatures jumped at them from everywhere. Eleonor demonstrated her great skills as a driver. Meanwhile, Bobby, Dean, and Sam shot at everything that dared to come too close.
The jeep moved swiftly through the area, putting as much-needed distance from the massive angels, feral scorpion-like creatures, and whatever was left in between.
As the jeep started to climb up the steep terrain, they got an open view of the fight. Raphael, Abaddon, and Castiel were engaged in a gruesome combat. Few angels were still airborne. Down on earth, the scorpion-like creatures were annihilating everything on their path.
It was like seeing the spread of a virus violently taking over. The black masses running across the valley suddenly changed and organized under a new banner. The jeep was trying to break away from those masses.
Bobby was shooting away. He was supporting himself on the window when the whole door fell apart, and he, too, fell with it. Elenor was quick enough to pull him back.
-Careful sweety, we don't want to miss you so soon…-
Bobby quickly rearranged himself on the seat. His eyes were wide after the scare. He detailed the car now; it was jiggling like jello; he saw another piece of the car scurry by; it was literally falling apart as it went.
-Is this the best you could get?- he finally protested.
-Hey! It was not easy getting this thing here, okay? I figure this would be much preferable to me having to carry all three of you on foot…- Eleonor replied right back.
-Not to Bobby…- Dean joked, and Sam snorted.
-CHILDREN! Eyes on the monsters…- Bobby protested, but it was too late. A giant hand popped out of nowhere and, grabbing the jeep like a toy car, snapped it up clean to the monster's eye level. That thing roared at them furiously and was about to smash the car into the ground when its arm and head were slid off clean from its body.
The jeep fell right back along the headless and armless monster.
They all looked at the dead body, holding their breaths; from behind it, Balthazar walked out. He was holding his sword, covered in blood. As he passes by the fallen monster, he cleans it against it. He approached the jeep.
The hunters were baffled.
-Took you long enough! I thought you had forgotten little me…- he complained at Eleonor in his usual sassy voice.
-Balthazar!- Dean exclaimed -you're still alive?-
-I think what he means is: What the heck, man! Where did you disappear?- Sam finishes Dean's sentence.
-Oh you guys!- came Balthazar with his usual snarky tone – I missed you too…-
He ripped off the damaged roof of the jeep with one hand and jumped in the trunk, standing up.
-Did you find it?- Eleonor asked him dryly.
-Yes…yes….And I have also secured it…Just follow the trail of dead bodies…- Balthazar made a careless motion with his hand in one direction. Eleonor started the jeep again. The jeep coughed a few times but promptly took on the road.
-Wait! Where are you both taking us?-. Bobby asked, looking intensely at Eleonor; she didn't look back at him but just smiled.
-You did what Abaddon asked you already…you free Castiel…- Balthazar answered, emphasizing on Castiel's name -We have no use for you anymore so… we are sending you home…-
-WHAT!- Dean and Sam protested, turning around at Balthazar
-The war is not even over!- pointed Sam, turning worriedly at Eleonor. She glanced at him through the rearview mirror.
-It is over…- she smiled back – We are currently staling until we get you guys safe…-
-And we owe it ALL to you…marvelous work!- Balthazar snarked at Dean – we are all set in a timely manner, and you all get to go back home safe and sound… -but he noticed Dean was not giving in; he was still staring at him -Oh hoho! Wait, did you think you got to share the spoils of war and join the after-party? HAHAHA Good children do their homework and go to bed…Whatever comes after this is for adults only-
Balthazar shook Dean's and Sam's heads. They both were annoyed, but they did not protest; there was something in Balthazar's voice, the hunters could tell they were not telling them something.
-Eli…where are you taking us?- Bobby repeated this time, slowly and softly.
-As Balthazar said…Home…Not the same way you came tho…-
Dean and Sam exchanged a glance. Bobby respired and shifted in his seat.
-Are you…going to open a portal for us or something?- he said looking sadly at her and then at Balthazar through the rear mirror. Balthazar seemed oblivious in the back, smiling as he surveyed the area.
-Ha! Imagine if monsters had the key to come and go as they please…puff! The only one that could get away with that trick is down there – Balthazar answered and pointed at Abaddon. At this point, the jeep has reached the summit of the mountain they have been driving on. They were almost shoulder level with the battling giants.
-Purgatory was never meant for humans, so there is a safeguard…- Eleonor started to explain when a desperate running demon jumped at them out of nowhere.
It attacked through Sam's window. Taken aback, Sam and Dean reacted on pure reflex, blasting the demon's head off. But the corpse didn't fall. Instead, the head snapped back, a horrifying metamorphosis complete. The transformed demon gave them a chilling wink, then scuttled away to rejoin the fray.
-Wait! What was that? – Sam asked – Did that thing instantly transform into one of those scorpion creatures?…-
-That is the reason we need you out of here pronto….- Balthazar interrupted.
Eleonor sighed sharply. -When you freed Castiel, you unleashed a curse upon Purgatory.- She slammed on the brakes, finally stopping the car. Eleonor got out, and the hunters followed. Up at the summit, the hunters found an open view of the entire landscape. Purgatory lay open at their feet, with its ever-dying light, muddy sky, and dark mist swirling frantically on the ground. Above it all stood the figures of Abaddon and Castiel, their victory unmistakable.
Raphael's army was diminished in seconds. His bloody figure kneeled before the angels; he was breathing heavily. Suddenly, a smile draws on his face.
In his desperation, Raphael starts to absorb whatever soul is still left in purgatory, any monster soul he devours, hoping to buff enough to overcome Castiel.
But unknowingly to him, not only was he absorbing souls, he was also absorbing the scorpion creatures.
For a winning moment, he laughed, feeling the surge of power taking over him, but something suddenly changed; there was something wrong. Raphael is in on fours, trying to hurl something out.
Raphael let out a frightening scream, a shout that made the whole earth tremble— he was in so much pain. Abaddon and Castiel are there standing before him. No smiles, not even an attempt to stop him or finish him. They stand in silence.
-That's your cue…- Balthazar respired.
-Is this….- Bobby asked – Is this the nuclear reaction… you have warned us about?- Bobby referred to the explanation they were always given when talking about absorbing or even tempering with souls. The main reason why the hunters had been wrestling with Castiel about absorbing that many souls.
-Am afraid so- Eleonor answered; everybody watched quietly as Raphael's body lit up in a blinding white light.
-So, is this the end…?- asked Sam
-Oh no darling….Castiel predicted this much….- The hunters turned at the siren, who was looking at the angels standing before Raphael, something of a proud look above her. -When you free Castiel, you activate a curse…but also a reset button. You see…purgatory is not meant for humans…nor angels and demons. There is a reason why powerful creatures like the leviathans have not been able to break out of this place…- she turned around at the hunters, who in turn were staring at her.
–There are safe keeps and reset systems in place…to keep all matters in check – Balthazar continued – once an alarm is triggered, those systems will go off…-
-…Now that purgatory has the joy to host an archangel going ballistic – Eleonor pointed out -It's about to become a white slate….Much well received for so many of us – Eleonor stood with a smile, her hands at her back.
-Let me see if I am understanding correctly because your aptitudes do not match the scenario – Dean steeped in – You are saying this whole place is about to be wiped clean with all of us here?-
Balthazar snorted – I truly hope you are not dismissing the keenness of your angel friends; after all, this is all their plan…and I believe…they got this…- Balthazar remarked, his last words sounding too serious for himself. -Els…we need to go- he grabbed her by the waist.
-Hey, hey hey!- protested Bobby and separated them. Balthazar laughed.
-Oh Els! Didn't you tell him? – he addressed Bobby with a mocking face -We are an item now – Bobby turned immediately at Eleonor, a mixture of feelings on his face.
-Oh! you joker, can you please be serious for two seconds straight – Eleonor replied, annoyed -I don't see why Abaddon insists on keeping you around, honestly…-
-Because she loves me and so do you…- Balthazar chuckled. Eleonor exhaled and took Bobby with her.
-I don't know Eli, I don't think you should be hanging with this crow…- Bobby stared angrily at Balthazar. Eleonor walked him back with Sam and Dean, past the jeep to a nearby slop.
-Do you see that?- Eleonor pointed up the slop. It was very faint, but they could all see blue sparks going randomly around that place.
-What is that?- Bobby asked.
-Purgatory safeguard for lost humans- Eleonor explained – A portal back to your world. It only opens if there are humans around – she smiled at him. By instinct, Bobby holds onto Eleonor's hand.
-You're coming with us- his voice more an order than a question. Eleonor looked into his eyes -No- was her sole answer and let go of his hand.
-Is that portal only for humans?- Sam asked -Are you all staying?- his voice sounding really sad.
Eleonor giggled – We will be fine, but….You must leave this place…now…-
-Abaddon made it very clear that you all need to be out…- Balthazar walked up to Sam – and we are not about to disappoint her…- he muttered and immediately pushed him into the blue spark. Immediately, a whole portal opens up, and Sam falls through it.
-WHY YOU!- Dean launched at Balthazar, but it was like hitting a cement wall. Balthazar snarked and subdued Dean in a blink. -Don't go missing me so much – he whispered in his ear with a laugh.
-You bastard!- Dean replied. Balthazar then pushed him into the portal and gave him one final kick in the butt before Dean crossed it.
Hahahaha- Balthazar laughed; he turned around at Bobby and Eleonor only to find them engaged. He rolled his eyes – Els, we need to go now – he called her with a tone of annoyance.
Eleonor had taken Bobby gently by the head and kissed him. He immediately returned the kiss, moving his hands to her hips and attracting her to him.
It was a long, passionate kiss.
-Call me…- she whispered playfully, pushed Bobby away, and went to Balthazar.
At that moment, Raphael finally gave in. A giant light was released as Rafael died. The light engulfs everything. It was so bright that it looked like it was swallowing the world whole. Abaddon and Castiel disappeared, along with all the creatures around them. The whole battlefield disappeared as the light swallowed everything in.
Bobby saw the light expand, coming right at them. He gave one last look at Eleonor, who was in Balthazar's arms, smiling back at him. They both disspapeared. Bobby stood there all alone for a few seconds he turned around and crossed the portal.
Bobby heard the rustle of leaves and felt a gentle breeze, but the light was still blindingly bright. Slowly, his vision cleared.
-Sam, Sam! Are you okay?- he heard Dean's voice, thick with worry.
-Yes... just give me a minute.- Sam replied, his voice strained.
-Where the heck are we?- Bobby joined them.
-At least a hundred yards from Maine- they all heard a familiar voice and turned around. Castiel and Abaddon stood before them, no longer towering figures but in the forms they knew. Castiel wore his usual trench coat, his clothes were now restored; Abaddon was wearing a similar coat as well. No mask, just the girl they'd first encountered.
Castiel still held that giant holy sword in his hand. He looked like his usual worried self, but at least he was healed.
Abaddon smiled at the hunters. -Thank you...- she said softly as she faded away. The hunters looked at the now empty space where she had been standing, confused, and then turned to Castiel for answers.
Castiel was looking at his sword. It shook in his hand, cracking like delicate glass. He pointed the sword to his own heart, and in one swift move, he plunged it, piercing his chest all the way through.
-What are you doing?- Dean lunged forward.
-It's okay, Dean...- He smiled and fainted, falling to his knees.
-NO... Why did you do that?!- Dean cried, catching Castiel. Sam and Bobby rushed to them.
I was so surprised...to see you- Castiel said, his voice growing weaker. -Thank you all... for rescuing... us...-
-Rescuing you? It doesn't look like we actually did it...- Dean protested, his voice thick with grief and anger.
-You saved me... and Abaddon... and...-
-NO... she said we were going to rescue your dumb ass and bring it back home... she wasn't done with you... and neither was I...- Dean muttered the last part.
-I am here, Dean...-
-You're dying... what's the point of all this? Bring you back so you could die in the middle of nowhere instead?-
-You set me free... Dean... You saved Earth...Raphael is no more…- Castiel locked eyes with him. -You saved us all... Thank you, Dean... Sam... Bobby...- Castiel let out a deep sigh and closed his eyes. The morning sunlight reached Castiel, revealing he was no longer an angel but some kind of statue. His body became cold and smooth.
-I'll be here...- He closed his eyes with those words, bowing his head. His hands rested on his lap, the sword piercing his chest. He became marble-like. Castiel was now a kneeling statue, frozen in a prayer stance, his face seeming to reflect peace-
-I don't... I don't get it, - Dean exhaled, confused, his eyes glistening. Sam kneeled by his side.
-But…you noticed it... right? - Sam asked. Dean turned to him, and they both stared at each other, understanding.
Bobby walked up and stood behind them. -As usual... there's something they're not telling us... What is it with angels and mysteries? - Bobby grumbled. He was now back to his old self.
They all looked at Castiel's statue, a whole new set of questions forming in their minds.
The day had just started.