Castiel's hand inadvertently loosened and he released Joriel's collar, momentarily awestruck by the sight of Lucifer's wings despite himself. His own wings had finally healed, battered as they had been in centuries past, but Lucifer's display left him somewhat dumbstruck. He could not deny the beauty before him, twisted though it had been for uncountable millenniums and confined to a cage.
It was a moment before Cas seemed to register the suggestion of getting the drained Archangel to a bed.
It probably wasn't a bad idea, as the being before him did seem to be using his last modicum of energy to keep himself upright..."Gabriel," Castiel intoned, seemingly rooted to the spot and looking towards his other brother.
"Help Lucifer."The words seemed foreign as they left his mouth, like someone else was speaking them.
Help Lucifer? God had commanded, despite Cas' own misgivings, that they look out for the once mighty Archangel -- for the moment he would obey, even if somewhat grudgingly.
The Seraphim reluctantly allowed his eyes to pull away from the scene in front of him, glancing in the direction that Cora had gone.
Out into the rain, clearly upset. His instincts were yanking him in two directions -- one feeling deeply mistrustful and wanting to guard Lucifer against causing any trouble (if he was even able to in his weakened state) and the other wanted to follow Cora. Cas had always felt a stronger bond with Dean than Sam, having been the one to retrieve the legendary hunter personally from Hell eons ago, and the fondness had seemingly transferred itself down through the older Winchester's bloodline. Cora was family.
But so was Lucifer, technically.Castiel nodded to Jackson, silently instructing the young man to keep tabs on the situation in his stead. Jackson was a skilled hunter and could certainly be trusted. (Not that his skills rivaled an Archangel's in any way, but he would have to suffice in for the moment.)
"Joriel," Cas added quietly, turning to the smallest member of the group.
"Make sure you don't touch him."Don't touch Lucifer. Why? Because. That's why.Cas slowly backed away from them, his eyes hesitant to remove themselves from the scene lest something suddenly go wrong, as he edged his way towards the open hotel door. It was swinging wildly in the wind; it had been left open and at the mercy of the elements that were raging outside. He wasn't sure where Cora had gone, but he thought it prudent to bring her back and have her help keep an eye on the Devil, exhausted though he clearly was. The more help he had to keep control on the situation, the better.
"Everyone just... behave," Castiel mumbled, mostly to himself.
"And I'll be right back."Out into the rain went the Angel, his trench coat not offering much in the way of protection. Getting wet was the least of his worries, however, especially when he smelled the distinct scent of fire wafting to him on the breeze. He couldn't hear anything over the wind and the thunder, but the glow of flames flickering between the trees at the edge of the nearby forest was a hard to ignore marker. He began to walk in their direction, a scowl of determination on his face and rain dripping in his squinting eyes.
He wasn't going to like what he would find, of course. He had never directly dealt with Lorelei, but he was aware of who she was. And, if he wasn't, the powerful devil's trap that she was currently stuck in would have told him almost everything he needed to know -- it was a step above a typical trap, meant only for a top level Demon. Certainly not someone to treat idly, especially now that Lucifer had been set free.
Did this Demon know? How many other beings on the various planes of existence knew? The surge of power that had happened when Lucifer was released would certainly have sent ripples through Heaven and Hell, but how many would have realized the implications of the jolt they felt?
"Cora?" Castiel called out, cupping his hands and using them in an attempt to get the sound to carry further. He was about to yell again when he came across the current Queen of Hell and the fiery prison that the Winchester girl had constructed.
What was going on here?
Marik
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