Daughter of Cain
Disclaimer: I do not own Supernatural
Chapter 31: The Bad Seed
Vivian's POV
When I woke up, a headache consumed me, quickly replaced by confusion about why I was back in my room in the Bunker. Hadn't we been on Nickerson's Property? It took me a moment to realize that Jenna was soulless and Amara was possessed by the Darkness, her body distorted to that of a little girl. I sat up, only to immediately regret it, as my chest still hurt, along with the whiplash from the headache.
I groaned, rubbed my temples, and then turned to the side to see a water bottle and some ibuprofen. I smiled slightly at the kind gesture before taking what I needed to ease my pain. Glancing at the clock, I noted it was mid-morning. Sighing, I stood up and assessed my condition. I grabbed a change of clothes and some toiletries before heading to the bathroom. I heard no noise as I passed Dean's room, which led me to assume he was awake and somewhere in the Bunker.
I took a quick shower and felt refreshed, noticing that the lightning scars on my skin had faded but still remained around the main scar. With a sigh, I finished my morning routine and put my things away. However, I needed to double-check, so I went to my trunk and pulled out a small box filled with items, including some tintypes from my early childhood. As I searched through the box, I found one that resembled what I was looking for. Still, I paused when I came across a picture of Cain and me. He was sitting in a chair while I stood next to him. The sight brought tears to my eyes, but I quickly returned to my search and found the image I had been seeking.
When I was about eight years old, I wore a dress that reached my knees, adorned with lace around the collar, sleeves, and trim. My hair was styled in two braids, and I held a porcelain doll. Looking at the picture, I realized how much Amara resembled me as a little girl. I grabbed the photo and got up to find Dean, hoping that it would help us locate Amara.
I entered the library, and Sam and Dean were there having a conversation.
"Just saying we got nothing," Sam said to Dean. "No one saw anything unusual going on at the house the day the baby disappeared."
A familiar monotone voice said, "If this is truly the Darkness we're talking about, it's more of a time bomb than a baby."
I walked in and saw Castiel sitting at a nearby table. He looked worse for wear, clearly physically drained from the curse Rowena had placed on him. His skin was pale, his eyes were bloodshot, and his clothes were disheveled. He had a blanket wrapped around him, which he held close.
"Yeah, but it is still a baby, right?" Dean said, looking at the angel. "I mean, the Darkness I saw was an adult. So, it still has to, uh, grow up."
"The Darkness is almost infinite power," Castiel replied. "I'm not sure what 'growing up means in this case."
"Mornin', boys," I said, making my presence known.
All three of them stared at me, surprised.
"Vivian," Sam greeted. "How are you feeling?"
"Like I got hit by a Mac truck," I said, taking a seat across from Castiel. "But I'll suffice."
They nodded, though Castiel tensed as he looked at me.
"Mind telling us what happened?" Dean asked.
I took a deep breath. "I was about to help you with Jenna when I saw a little girl in the hallway. I went after her and figured the Darkness had altered Amara's body to age. I tried to stop her, thinking we... Anyway, when I confronted her …she resembled me in a way."
"Resembles you?" Sam asked.
I nodded, handing him the picture of me as a little girl, "I don't know if being struck by the Book of the Damned Cure took my image, but other than the coloring, she looked like me when I was around that age."
Sam handed the picture to Dean and took the photo as he chuckled, "Frilly dress?"
I glared at him, "It was the fashion back then in the 1870s."
Dean nodded as he looked at the picture.
"I'll see if I can sketch up a drawing' to see if that might help," I said.
The boys nodded, appreciating that it had been a year since I last picked up a sketchbook or even paint.
"Also, she said somethin' that disturbed me," I added.
Dean scowled at that, "Like what?"
I took a deep breath, "She knew me, addressed me by my name?"
"What did she say?" Sam asked.
"She said we used to play together and that we were friends until I grew up," I said. "And that we will be together again soon."
Dean frowned when hearing this.
"Were you friends with the Darkness?" Castiel asked.
I gave the angel a hard look, "Like I remembered being friends with the Darkness."
"Maybe Cain might have written it down," Castiel said painfully in discomfort. "You mentioned he left three journals about his family."
My stomach tightened because I still lacked the courage to open those journals. They represented a ruined past.
"When you get a chance," Sam added, then cleared his throat. "Well, God kicked this thing's ass once before, right?"
I debated whether to tell them about the Being I encountered in the Empty. I want to discuss it with Dean first because if I told Sam, he would get his hopes up, and if I shared it with Castiel, he would likely try to contradict me.
"Yeah, it'd be nice if he put down the Mai Tai and show up for work," Dean said as he stood up.
More like recovering from fighting Lucifer, I thought.
"I wouldn't count on it," Castiel agreed.
"It's possible he's around," Sam said hopefully. "Closer than we think, you know?"
I doubt the Empty is that close, I thought again.
"What makes you say that?" Dean asked.
"I believe he made a fairly definitive statement when we walked away," Castiel said as he stood up, only for a chain noise to be heard.
That's when I realized he had shackles chaining him to the floor. As he lifted his hands, he appeared to suddenly remember they were there. My eyes widened at the sight, and I looked between the angel and the Winchesters.
"Sorry about those, Cass," Dean said. "Till we know what's going on with you, you're still a bit of a wild card, you know?"
"He's still under the spell?" I asked, still in disbelief.
"We tried the potion you made for us, but it didn't work," Dean explained as he grabbed a can of beer and tossed it to Sam.
"That's because I am an angel," Castiel grumbled.
Sam caught the beer and set it down. "I hate to point this out, but you both know who we might need to help deal with the Darkness."
"Don't even say it," Dean warned, pointing his finger at Sam as he sat down.
"He was God's scribe," Sam reminded. "He did hear about everything."
"That's just like saying it," Dean grumbled.
It took me a moment, when I said, "Are you talkin' about Metatron."
"And she said it," Dean grumbled.
"Sorry to ruin your fragileness," I grumbled, then stared at Sam. "I doubt it since he would say anything to get out of any mess he's in. Wait…I thought he was in prison or dead."
"Oh, they didn't tell you?" Dean said, amused. "They broke Metatron out, stole his grace, and lost him."
My mouth literally dropped as I stared at Sam and Castiel.
"You didn't know?" Dean asked.
"I don't think so," I said.
Dean sighed, realizing that I had truly been left out of the loop until the last minute or afterward. Castiel had sat back down, growling and shivering.
"Cass, you all right, pal?" Dean asked.
"It's the spell," Castiel inhales and exhales deeply.
"We were hoping your angel wiring would fight it off or...slow it down at least," Sam said.
"It appears I simply respond differently from humans," Castiel hissed in pain.
"If you were human, you'd be gone," Dean reminded. "With you, it's like it's digging deeper."
"You know, Rowena's the only one who can remove it," Sam said.
"We're doing everything to find her, okay?" Dean replied. "But so far, we got nothing."
"Well, it's getting worse," Sam whispered.
Castiel grunted as he rocked in his seat.
I then thought of something. I got up and went to my room to grab the tracking compass with the Stynes Crest.
"You still have that?" Dean said, surprised.
"Yeah, it may not direct you to Rowena from here, but once you find her location, you will be able to find her easily," I said.
"Why didn't you use it before with Dean?" Sam asked.
"Someone had a hex bag," I said, glaring at Dean, who merely shrugged.
"And what if Rowena has a hex bag that wards her off?" Dean asked.
"Well, this item was able to track the Book of the Damned," I answered. "She still has that, and we need to lock it up before anyone tries to do a spell on it. Let alone, she has my blood."
Dean frowned when hearing this, "Your blood?"
"In our desperation, Rowena was supposed to alter the spell to transfer the Mark to me," I explained. "She asked for my blood; I gave her some…. unfortunately, she did not use it, going with the original spell. Then, she used the Guard Dog Spell on Castiel, preventing him from purifying it."
"What can you do with Cambion blood?" Sam asked.
I sat down, "Many things, it's not as dark as demon blood…but very potent. As ingredients considering…."
I glanced at Castiel, knowing that the heavenly host had made it their mission to exterminate my kind since the beginning. Those who managed to survive in the past were Merlin and Caliban. Now, the only ones remaining are Jesse Turner and myself. I need to find Jesse to train him, but everything is proving to be difficult.
Sam and Dean understand my reference to Castiel, which means angels.
"So, you need to get the Book of the Damned, the Codex, and my blood as well," I announced.
"We?" Dean asked.
"I am in no condition to fight, and with my abilities distorted, it will be a while before I am able to help you out there," I said. "Also…someone needs to watch him."
As I gestured to Castiel.
"As long as he doesn't have an angel blade and wears those angel cuffs, I should be safe," I said.
"She's right," Castiel agreed.
"I'll see if I can make a potent potion that can at least curve the itch to kill," I added.
Castiel nodded in agreement.
The Winchesters nodded as well.
"Anyway, we know that Rowena prefers luxurious hotels and restaurants. It will be a matter of time before she uses her magic to avoid paying the bill," I said.
Everyone nodded in agreement.
.o0o.
I was in the ingredient room, much like an apothecary, trying to create a potion for Castiel. I should have been sketching the current state of Amara or reading the journals, but seeing Castiel in his condition moved me to help. Fortunately, my studies of magic and potions and the books I read from Cain's library provided me with the needed knowledge. With an angel, I had to double the dosage and add some holy oil to see if that would help.
As I was brewing, Dean came in with a sandwich.
"Thanks," I murmured.
Dean put the sandwich down. "I should be thanking you since you and Castiel don't get along."
I chuckled slightly, "He's grown on me. And I think I earned some of his trust to know that I will not annihilate the heavenly host."
Dean snorted as he leaned against the table. "We should talk."
"Aren't we," I replied with a smirk.
Dean shook his head, "That's not what I mean."
I rubbed my dirty hands onto the apron I wore, took the sandwich, and ate it.
"If you and I are bonded with the Darkness, we need to be careful," Dean started.
"What do you feel when you are near the Darkness?" I asked.
Dean sighed, "When I first met her, this overwhelming feeling…almost like a siren influence and…" he cleared his throat. "Almost like a longing."
I frowned when hearing this.
"And you?" he asked.
I sighed, setting the sandwich down, "A familiarity and protectiveness."
"Like a friend?" he asked.
"I don't know," I answered. "I don't even remember her as a child."
"Well, you are over a hundred and fifty," he reminded. "Maybe you are becoming senile."
I scoffed and gently shoved him, to which he smiled a little.
"Still, being sired with the Mark and you being its host have bound us to her," I said. "We need to ignore our instincts and focus when we are around her."
Dean nodded in agreement.
I took a deep breath, "Dean…I know I mentioned it after recovering some of my memory from the sleep-like-death curse…. But…"
Dean looked at me, giving me time to explain.
"Take it with a grain of salt, but I crossed paths with the Entity that basically runs the Empty." I started.
"The Empty," Dean repeated.
I nodded, "It's the place where angels and demons go when they die, resting in eternal slumber. It's their version of heaven, but it is dark, empty, and void of anything. The Entity tried to help me, but I was like a sleeping beauty trapped there. It attempted to lull me into sleep when another being arrived."."
Dean continues to stare at me.
"It kept me from seeing this Being with many voices, yet it spoke as if it were God," I said.
"So, you are saying God is in the Empty?" Dean asked.
"Maybe…I don't know since it could have been the Entity's tricks or a demon," I answered.
Dean took a deep breath, "What did this Being say?"
"What we know is that the Darkness represents nothing. God betrayed her in order to create life. She must be contained, for her hands bring destruction, even though she played a role in creating this world and the disasters in nature and night.
Dean nodded.
"This Being who claims to be God has been in the Empty since putting Lucifer in the cage." I finished.
Dean's eyes widened, "Then who has been helping us in all is practically lost?"
"I don't know," I said. "The Being mentioned an avatar…But I woke up. Hopefully, more of the Empty will come to me."
"Avatar, like a tall, blue, sexy alien?" Dean asked.
I chuckled, shaking my head, knowing he was trying to lighten the mood, "Not that. But in Hinduism…. It's another way to say incarnation."
Deen sighed, resting a hand on my shoulder, "Let's do one thing at a time. You focus on the potion for Castiel while Sam and I get Rowena. Afterward, we will focus on the Darkness."
"You're right," I breathed, leaning in slightly but stopping myself.
Dean noticed this as he stared at me.
I know he cares for me, and I care for him. However, I realized that I had feelings for him, and it was complicated because he had clarified that he only wanted to be friends. The bond we share was influenced by the Mark of Cain… by the Darkness. But now that the Darkness is free, I can differentiate what belongs to me and what belongs to her. A part of me wants Dean… more than just as a friend. He knows who I am and hasn't shown any disdain or treated me as a threat.
Dean continued to look at me, leaning in closer as if he was about to kiss me when suddenly there was a hissing sound. Frustrated, I pulled away, trying to salvage the potion by adding more herbs. Dean sighed, a sound that seemed to convey defeat, and stood up.
"Let us know when the potion is ready," he said.
"Yeah, okay," I said, not looking at him.
Dean left, not saying another word.
I sighed with disappointment.
After a few hours, I returned to the library with the potion. I placed the vial on the table in front of Castiel, who regarded it with caution.
"It won't cure ya, but hopefully, it can reduce the urges," I said.
Castiel hesitated before taking the vial and gulping down its contents. He groaned, grimacing at the taste. The Winchesters watched as they stood guard, waiting. After a few moments, the redness faded from his eyes, and he sighed in relief.
"Thank you," he said. "I feel less homicidal."
I nodded, giving a sincere smile.
"Well, color is returning," I said as I took the vial and moved to the other side of the table, where I found paper and a pencil, presumably left behind by one of the Winchesters. I sat down and began sketching, relying on my memory to draw Amara as she had appeared recently—in the form of a girl.
Dean, pacing, raised his voice as he said into the phone. "Come on, Crowley, pick up. I've left you a dozen messages. Why isn't he answering the phone?"
"Because he's a dick, and that's not breaking news," Sam said, still at his laptop.
"He's gotta have Rowena in his sights, right?" Dean assumed as he made his way over. "I mean, she did try to take him out."
"He's not gonna deliver Rowena to us just so she can lift the spell," Castiel said. "He'd rather let it do whatever it's gonna do to me."
"He's gotta be up to something," Dean said.
"Yeah. Again, not breaking news," Sam said, then sighed. "Metatron is also off the grid. He stole your car in Blaine, Missouri, right?"
"Yeah," Castiel breathed, staring at Sam.
"Yeah, uh, no accidents, incidents, violations, or anything remotely interesting involving a crappy '78 Continental Mark V," Sam reported.
Castiel seemed offended as he said, "You think it's crappy?"
Sam realized his mistake while Dean tried to think of something to lighten the insult.
"Eye of the beholder," Dean murmured.
A snort escaped me as I bowed my head, trying to hold in a laugh.
Castiel made a slight pout as he said, "A shut-in for centuries, former scribe of God. You wouldn't think he would be a good driver."
"Well, how long has he been on earth?" I asked.
"Since the Native Americans," Dean answered.
"Really," I hummed. "Then he probably had driven or read about driving."
Dean snorted, shaking his head.
"You know what? I'll look for unusual occurrences at places he might hang out," Sam said.
Cass paused, and I stopped staring at him, wondering if it was a side effect or if the potion was wearing off quickly.
"Cass?" Sam called out.
Castiel looked up, confused.
"Places Metatron might hang out," Dean repeated.
"Um... I mean, he loves waffles," Castiel guessed. "You could try places that have those."
"Okay, so, every restaurant in the entire country," Dean grumbled looking at his screen.
Suddenly, Castiel started shaking violently.
"He's having a seizure," I said, getting around as Castiel fell to the ground. I adjusted him onto his side. "Sam, document time."
Sam told me the time. I spoke softly to Castiel, assuring him he was safe while removing the blankets. I would have taken off the cuffs, but it was a risk none of us could afford to take. Instead, I brought him closer to the chain to reduce any restrictions before turning him onto his side into the recovery position, ensuring his airways remained clear. I also removed his tie and unbuttoned a few buttons on his shirt.
After that, we had to wait. Dean assisted while using comforting words to help calm Castiel's senses. Eventually, the seizure stopped. Fortunately, there was no foam or vomit obstructing his airways, so we allowed a moment before rolling Castiel onto his back. I panted as the adrenaline rush began to fade—something I hadn't experienced in a medical setting for a long time. I grabbed my phone and noted that the episode had lasted for three minutes.
"Cass?" Sam spoke, resting a hand on the angel's shoulder. "Hey. Are you okay?"
"Relative to what?" Castiel replied with a raspy voice.
"I'm going to ask some questions," I said. "Do you know where you are? What's the date?"
"Earth," Castiel answered. "Several billion years from the beginning."
"I'll take it," I said, shaking my head.
"Come on, buddy," Dean said, helping him up. "Come on."
Castiel groaned, "It's like I was... inside a blender that was set to purée for a tomato salsa."
"And you're the tomato?" Dean asked, amused.
"In this analogy, yes," Castiel answered with a grumble.
"Yeah," Dean breathed.
"Vivian, was that a side effect of the potion?" Sam asked.
I shook my head, "No, he would be vomiting blood."
I took my phone for better lighting to get a view of the angels' eyes, "Did you receive any head trauma as of late? Or your vessel having a history of epilepsy?"
Castiel was in a daze as he said, "I blacked out for a lot of it. But I... I don't know. It overwhelmed me. I-I couldn't control it."
"Castiel, I need to know so I can properly treat you," I said.
Castiel sighed, "My brothers held me captive after breaking the curse. They performed mind hacking."
"Mind Hacking," I repeated, then remembered hearing about it. "With spells or instruments."
"Instruments," Castiel answered.
"Fucking hell," I muttered.
"You curse too much," the angel noted.
"What is it?" Dean asked with concern. "Mind hacking needs to be done correctly. Spells, it is a success, or the brain explodes. However, with an instrument, it's lobotomy. If done incorrectly, it can cause seizures. With Rowena's curse and the trauma from a failed attempt of mind hacking, Castiel's brain can't heal properly."
Dean frowned as he stared at Sam, "We gotta find that witch."
"Yeah," Sam agreed.
They helped Castiel onto the chair, and then Dean helped me up.
"What can I do to help?" Castiel offered.
"No, no, no, you just, uh, sit there and take a breather, try and put yourself back together," Sam instructed calmly.
"Okay. I'll do my best," Castiel whispered, then groaned, holding his head. "It's... It's difficult with these voices."
"Now there are voices?" Sam asked with concern.
"Are these voices telling you to hurt someone?" Dean asked.
"No. Guys, I'm - I'm hearing Angel radio. It's a lot of chatter," Castiel answered tiredly. "They're... They've been looking for me ever since I escaped, as well as scouring the earth for the perp. It's slang for "perpetrator.""
"Ah," Dean replied.
"Yeah, thank you. Um, a-any..." perp" in particular?" Sam asked.
"Metatron," Castiel answered. "They're doubling the effort to find him, so... If we need to get hold of him, we better do it soon."
"Yeah, before the God squad does," Dean said. "All right, well, first thing first."
I closed my eyes and tried to listen to the Demon radio. Once more, it was distorted and low-frequency, as if everyone was trying to avoid the main subject and focus on business in soul collection. I frowned since there was talk about the Darkness, yet many were unsure.
Sam was typing away on his computer until he found something, "Listen to this. Maybe something here. Uh, in Denver, three women were at this Café Elta when their waiter, for no apparent reason, stabbed and killed one. One survived, and the third vanished after furniture seemed to slide around by itself. What do you think?"
Dean pulled out his phone, the one he uses for FBI façade, dialed a number, and brought it to his ear: "Hi, who's your lead on the Café Elta investigation?"
Not long after, Sam and Dean prepared for their investigation. No doubt Rowena was there, and by the reports, it sounds like she was trying to make another coven. Along with a demon or witch hunter after her.
"Sorry that we have you on babysitting duty," Dean said.
"It's fine. The faster we get Rowena to break the spell, the easier things will get," I assured him, then noticed he was staring at me. "What is it?"
"Nothing," he answered with a sigh.
"Dean, I don't mind," I said. "Besides, someone needs to keep an eye on Castiel."
Dean nodded as he went to the table, pulling out an angel blade. I tensed when I saw it. Even though I know Dean won't hurt me with it. But the blade is one of the few things that can, if not kill me. Dean noticed this and offered it to me. I hesitated since I never held an angel blade. Slowly, Dean took my hand and placed it in my own. I sense the strong aura since the angel blades were made by God. My hand shook as I gripped the silver blade.
"This can kill angels," he informed. "It can also hurt them when not struck in the non-vital regions. Slashing is better than stabbing. If Castiel loses himself, use it."
He also pulled out a slip of paper with an Enochian sigil: "You might have seen this, but if you draw this with your blood and the angel is in sight, slam your hand on it. It will ward them off and send them away. I hope you don't have to do it…But I want you to prepare."
"Why are you giving me this?" I asked.
"Because I don't want you to get hurt for my mistakes," he answered.
I inhaled sharply, not sure where this was going.
"Look, Viv, I care about you, and…" he paused, trying to find his words.
"Dean, we got to go," Sam called out.
Dean took a deep breath, "Good luck."
Disappointment filled me, and I nodded, keeping my mask on to assure him that I was alright. When the Winchesters left, I checked on Castiel to ensure he was good before going to the galley to make food for the angel and me.
.o0o.
The following day, I finished the drawing of Amara as a little girl. When I showed it to Castiel, he was impressed.
"I can see what you mean by resemblance," Castiel murmured.
"Could the cure going through me alter Amara?" I asked.
"Possibly, or she is descended from Cain like most humanity with Abel and Seth," Castiel answered.
I set the drawing down, "You've been there since the beginning of humanity?"
Castiel nodded, "I have seen many."
I nodded, debating whether to ask him about my kin when he gave a groan and grabbed his head. Maybe now is not the time to ask him about my uncles. I helped ease his headache with a potion and kept watch.
Afterward, I cautiously stared at the journals. I was originally going to read them in my room, but I couldn't leave Castiel alone. These were the surviving journals of Cain's memoir. The ones that were about Colette and me. The betrayal lingers with the anger. Yet, I had to read them in case he ever mentions me having a friend.
"Is something wrong?" Castiel asked.
"I don't really want to read these," I answered.
"I would offer to read them, but I might actually destroy them," Castiel said.
I sighed, tracing my fingers on the leather-bound, "It's hard…Cain betrayed me; he lied to me, and I placed a curse on me. How can I forgive him yet hate and love him at the same time."
Castiel took a deep breath, "Forgiveness is something that needs to be earned. But in Cain's case, it is something that time will heal."
I took a deep breath and nodded.
"It is alright to be mad at him. I feel the same way about God," he said.
I was surprised when hearing this.
"Even though he resurrects me, making me a Seraphim, it doesn't resolve his absence," he said. "I hope one day, God does return and explains everything."
I nodded, "A part of me wanted to be an atheist, yet can't be in who my family is."
"There is always agnostics," he suggested.
I snorted and shook my head before taking a deep breath, opening the journal, and reading about my parents. "Emotional roller coaster" was one way to describe it, as Cain truly poured his heart into his writing. I read about how my parents met, their courtship, marriage, and the few years they spent together. It was a surprise to discover that Colette was pregnant, as Cain believed he was sterile and was certain of his wife's faithfulness. He could sense my presence during the birth, though the conception was different from creating a cambion.
Cain's writing revealed both his fears and Colette's excitement. He expressed his love and concern for Colette and the unborn child while conducting research and preparing for the complexities of childbirth, especially for a baby who would be a cambion. He gathered all his artifacts and a sample of the Fountain of Youth in case complications arose. Cain had everything prepared... and then Abaddon came, taking Colette just as Cain was helping a neighbor smuggle slaves to freedom.
I had to stop, setting the bookmark in and covering my face as the tears fell.
"You alright?" Castiel asked.
"My mother wanted me, and my father worried about the complications," I sobbed. "Cain knew I wasn't a normal cambion. He took every step, and the moment he did a good deed, Abaddon ruined everything."
Castiel stared at me, unsure what to say.
I rubbed my eyes as a sob escaped, "Sorry, it's just too much."
"I'm assuming this is your human side," Castiel muttered.
I chuckled, shaking my head, "What have you been doing?"
"Been trying to find my car," Castiel announced as he was typing on his computer while looking at the notes Sam left. "To pull up information on a car, "select the search box, "and type in violations. "And enter license plate number, make..."
He hits the enter button. There was a beep, and Castiel frowned, trying to fix it, when a sudden moan popped up out of nowhere. Along with a sensual female voice saying:
"Fortune Nookie, your premiere website for all your Asian girl fantasies. We have hundreds of lovely girls just waiting to chat with you 24 hours a day."
Immediately, Castiel closes the laptop.
"What could "Fortune Nookie" be?" he asked himself.
Unable to contain myself, I burst out laughing. I laughed so hard that tears streamed down my face as I held my stomach. If this was a brief emotional break from fate, I truly appreciated it. Before I could respond to his question, whether rhetorical or not, he gasped and gave a violent shudder.
"Cass?" I spoke, standing up.
I grabbed one of the potion vials designed to reduce his urges for violence. Although the angel blade was securely fastened to my hip, I hesitated to use it on someone who might be a friend.
He gripped the table, gasping, his face contorted in pain, with a predatory gaze. Before I could step in, Castiel panted and started to regain control. His eyes returned to normal, but I didn't want to take any chances, so I uncorked the vial and handed it to him. Castiel accepted it and gulped it down.
"Hang in there," I told him.
"I don't want to hurt anyone," he whispered.
"We'll figure this out," I assured him. "The Winchesters will find Rowena, and we will be closer to curing you."
"I hope so," Castiel sighed.
I patted his shoulder, comforting him best in this dire situation. Although, as a precaution, I placed a tracking coin in his coat pocket. I stood up straight.
"I'm gonna make us some dinner," I said.
"I don't eat," Castiel reminded.
I snorted, "You're low on energy, yer gonna eat."
With that in mind, I headed to the galley, thinking a simple pasta dish would be sufficient. As I cooked, I pulled out my phone to check for any updates. Dean had texted a few hours earlier, saying they had Rowena and would be on their way. The drive from here to Denver took about six hours, so considering the time of his message, they would arrive in roughly three hours. I prepared a snack but decided to change my meal plans to something more fitting for when they got here.
Suddenly, I heard the door slam.
"Fuck," I cursed as I ran out to see the library was empty and the shackles were on the ground with destroyed cuffs.
Grabbing my leather jacket, I ran out of the Bunker, hoping to catch Castiel before he teleported. Once outside, I couldn't hear or sense him anywhere. Cursing under my breath, I took out the twin coin and began tracking Castiel.
.o0o.
I was cursing myself for not grabbing my phone. I had set it down when I heard the door slam and ran. I should have contacted the Winchesters to inform them about our angel's prison break. I had been tracking him throughout Lebanon using the coin, and I was so close to getting him in my sights before he teleported again.
Despite his lack of energy, he was still able to teleport within the city limits. There were several close encounters where he managed to escape, as his attempted victims ended up in more public areas or inside buildings.
That was until I saw Castiel walking down an empty street—well, it would have been empty if it weren't for a woman who was oblivious to what was happening. Knowing that Castiel wasn't at fault, I felt I had to stop him. However, I didn't want to kill him. I needed to be prepared for what was to come. My eyes glowed purple as I released my aura to get the angel's attention.
When the woman turned around and saw Castiel, she began to run. Like any predator, Castiel took off after her. I cursed under my breath and started running, chasing after the angel.
He came at her fast—too fast. Only for her to turn the corner, in which Castiel stopped.
"Castiel," I yelled. "Stop."
Castiel growled, his eyes bloodshot, ready to kill.
A blur of muscle and rage. I barely had time to twist aside as his fist skimmed past my jaw, the force of it sending a shockwave through my skull. He was stronger, with the curse in his bones. I staggered, using the brick wall to steady myself. No time to think, no time to breathe.
Castiel lunged again. This time, I ducked low, taking my cambion form, my instincts sharper despite my exhaustion. I drove my knee into his ribs— felt the impact, heard the grunt—but he barely flinched. His elbow crashed down against my shoulder, knocking me to the concrete.
I rolled just in time to avoid his shoe stomping where my head had been a second before. Castiel was relentless, all brute force of the spell. If he pinned me, it was over. Not having a choice, I pulled out the angel blade.
"Cass, listen, you're not in your right mind." I pleaded. "Don't make me do this."
Castiel growled as he lunged forward. I swiped across, getting him in his arms as a shimmer of his grace was revealed. He bellowed, stumbling forward. I strike again, knowing I need to injure him enough to knock him unconscious. However, Castiel grabbed hold of my other arm and swung me across the alley, colliding into a dumpster. The impact knocked the air out of my lungs as pain exploded in my ribs.
I looked up, seeing Castiel going inside the factory, which was no doubt where the woman took refuge. I could hear her cries. Growing in pain, I chased after the angel. Keeping a secure hold on the angel blade, I searched for them, using my senses to find the woman before Castiel did.
It took a moment, as the place was dark, but I found her hiding behind some cargo. Quickly, I made my way over to her. She almost cried, yet I slammed my hand over her mouth to silence her. She realized I was here to help despite my appearance.
There were several loud thuds, no doubt Castiel in his search. Quietly, I gestured for the woman to follow me. I was leading her to an exit when a hand grabbed me. Knowing it was Castiel, I shoved the woman.
"Run!" I yelled.
She screamed and began to run.
I tried to stab Castiel, yet he took my hand, twisting it and forcing the angel blade to fall. He pinned me to a wall, his hands wrapped around my neck, choking me. Desperately, I tried to fight him off, yet he was stronger than I was at that moment. My hands reached my face, trying to scratch it, yet he was unphased as he glared at me with those bloodshot eyes.
"Cass," I cried out, barely audible. "St…st-stop!"
Castiel growled, squeezing tighter and pushing me harder. I did all the self-defense maneuvers, yet Castiel kept hold, choking me. Desperately, I attempt to relax my breathing, staring at the angel.
The sound of running could be heard. Glancing, Dean came in, grabbed the angel blade off the ground, and came closer.
"Cass! Cass!" Dean called out, trying to get the angel's attention. "Don't do this. Okay, this isn't you. It's the spell. You can beat this."
Castiel glanced at him, then turned his attention to me. His grip tightened. He may not be able to kill me, but he can crush my neck, making recovery longer. His eyes, which were once angelic blue, were burning red. The need to kill lingered on my face. As if death was emanated if he did not kill me.
"Cass... Let her go. Go!" Dean yelled.
Tears escaped as I stared at the angel. A sob escaped as I stared at the angel, knowing he was not at fault, yet the pain was traumatizing. As if seeing my tears startled him, Castiel let go, taking a few steps back. I fell to the ground, grabbing my neck and gasping.
Dean made his way over, standing between Castiel and me. His attention was on the angel, "Hey. Okay, okay. It's gonna be okay, buddy, all right?"
When Dean placed his hand on Castiel's shoulder, comprehension vanished as Castiel attacked. He grabbed Dean, tossing him into the planks, shattering. Castiel rushed in, grabbed Dean, and repeatedly punched him. Not thinking, I ran in, tackling Castiel, wrapping my arms around his neck in an attempt to suffocate him to unconsciousness.
The sound of running could be heard, seeing Sam aiming a gun at Rowena's head.
"Desiste," Rowena chanted, which made Castiel stop, letting go of Dean.
"Do I need to remind you these are witch-killing bullets?" Sam warned the witch. "Finish it!"
"Yes, yes, all right," Rowena replied. "Adlevo onus tuum."
Castiel began to convulse and groaned, falling to his knees. I let go, panting, trying to stay up, yet I also fell to my knees. Dean rushed to Castiel's side, helping the angel who was being expelled from the curse. Panting, I crawled over, helping Castiel as he went through the seizure-like symptoms, helping him onto his side while Dean comforted his friend.
When the seizure stopped, Castiel opened his eyes, being back to angelic blue.
"Hey, hey, hey. Come on. Come on," Dean said, helping Castiel sit up. "Yeah. Hey."
"Permitte telum!" Rowena bellowed. "Abi!"
Sam was tossed across the room, colliding into boxes. Rowena walked away with a smirk on her face.
Quicky, Dean and I stood chasing after the witch.
"Impedi!" Rowena yelled, waving her arms down, making the roller shutters separate us from her. She smiled. "I'm sure you had every intention of honoring our deal. But why take chances?"
"Rowena," I seethed.
Rowena smiled at me, "Nice seeing you again, Vivian."
I lunged forward, summoning my strength to break down the rolling shutters, yet I had used up too much energy. A wave of dizziness came over me, and I nearly collapsed, only to be caught by Dean.
"Until next time," Rowena murmured, walking away.
I panted, pissed off and exhausted as I looked at Dean.
He scowled, then sighed.
.o0o.
We were back in the Bunker by the early hours. All of us were in the Crows Nest, as Dean had an ice pack on his head. I had two being held against my neck. As for Castiel, he seemed to be in a daze. All three of us are worse for wear.
Sam came in with another round of beer, setting it in front of us, yet only Dean grabbed his. It was a bit difficult to swallow right now for me.
"Hey. You should keep applying that," Sam told Dean, who removed his ice pack.
"Thanks, mom. You just keep the beers comin'." Dean countered as he took a swig of beer.
Sam chuckled at this.
"Dean, Vivian, I... There aren't words." Castiel started.
"You're right. There aren't words, Cass, 'cause there's no need," Dean said as he put the ice pack on his forehead. "You were under a spell. It's fine."
"Agreed," I croaked, wincing slightly.
"Yeah, but you had Rowena," Castiel said with much guilt. "Because of me, you..."
"You know, Cass, we've got the codex and Vivian's blood…. That's a start," Sam tried to comfort. "You know, it'll slow Rowena down some. If we'd killed her, the Book of the Damned would've been lost."
As Sam placed the vial containing my blood on the table, I picked it up to ensure everything was in order. I considered whether to store it in the ingredient room or purify it. Sighing, I decided to hand the vial over to Castiel.
"Purify it…" I managed to say.
Castiel nodded as he took the vial, purified it, and ensured it was uncontaminated before turning it into regular blood.
"Well, well, that's one thing not to worry about," Dean added. "Besides, we got bigger fish to fry."
"The Darkness," Castiel murmured. "What does she want?"
"Well, the big question is, where the hell is she?" Dean rephrased, then groaned.
Castiel then gestured to Dean's injuries, "Dean, I can fix that."
"No, no, no. No, no. It's fine, Cass," Dean assured, making some distance. "Besides, I had it comin'."
Castiel then turned to me, which I pulled away, "I'll heal…by…tomorrow."
Dean and I put our ice packs in place and then slouched in our chairs. Being beaten up by an angel is not fun.
I need a vacation.
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