Means Nothing Without You - Chapter 7
Chapter Seven: Master of Puppets
The shouting shook motes of dust off the bookshelves in Bobby's living room as the older hunter tore into Michael for not letting Dean have his body back while Castiel stood nearby, ready to intervene if the argument got violent.
In the kitchen, Sam tore into his slice of cold pizza with more force than necessary, but he figured it was better to demolish Bobby's leftovers than his furniture. He'd devoured three slices and his stomach still growled at him. Being almost dead apparently worked up an appetite.
"I don't see why you think you need to stick around," Bobby growled. "That boy deserves to live his life, and he's saved this whole planet without your help before! Heck, we don't even know what it is we're fighting yet!"
"Leviathan." Cas's deep voice rang with the foreboding declaration. "I was unsure of it when I encountered them in Purgatory, but I don't know what else they could be."
Michael looked at Sam. "Is this true?"
"Yes, they're leviathan." Sam set the pizza aside. "We'll take care of it on our own, like we always do."
Michael glared. "You are arrogant to wager all life on this planet against your ability to fight an enemy you know nothing about."
"We handled them just fine in Purgatory," Sam argued, overstating things a bit.
Michael shook his head. "Purgatory was created by my Father to be their prison, to weaken them. Without that cage, they would have devoured the entire world. Make no mistake, you have never faced a foe like the leviathan before. If they get a chance to organize they will be nearly impossible to defeat."
Sam glared back. "We'll figure something out. If you want to help, do it from Heaven."
Michael stared him down. "I will be able to have a much greater impact here."
"Dean will have a greater impact here!" Sam ran his hands through his hair. "Don't you get it? This isn't about beating the leviathan. This is about me getting my brother back!"
Castiel stepped forward. "I may have a solution." He looked back and forth between them. "Neither of you will like it, but it may be the best compromise."
"What is in your mind, Castiel?" Michael asked.
The angel drew his chin up. "The point of contention is that Michael wishes to fight, and the rest of us wish to see Dean fight as well.” The two hunters and archangel nodded their agreement, and Castiel continued. “Before his soul passed on to heaven, there were moments when my vessel was aware, alert. Even now, Dean has some notion of what is happening around him."
Bobby uncrossed his arms and stepped toward them from where he'd been leaning against his desk. "What are you suggesting?"
Castiel's shoulders lifted in a slight shrug. "If I was able to keep Jimmy awake enough to speak to me, Michael should certainly be able to do that, and more, for Dean."
Sam shook his head. "Nice try, but I don't think Dean will appreciate being trapped in his own body like that."
Michael shifted his contemplative gaze from Sam to Castiel. "I propose we ask him."
***
Cas wasn't paying attention to him and Sammy left a long time ago. Dean didn't like it. He never really like being alone, but usually he hid it better. Now, when Cas's grace stroked him, a caress to let him know he wasn't forgotten, Dean soaked it up. Part of him wondered what was taking so long, but the rest was just happy to be this close to Cas again. Dean felt safe here like he hadn't since he was four years old. Though he knew he couldn't, he wanted to stay.
Dean, you cannot stay here forever. Cas's voice surrounded him. You have a life to live.
Dean sighed (or he would have, if he had lungs at the moment). I know. What's taking so long? Can't you find Michael?
Castiel's silence told Dean everything. Michael isn't going to leave, is he? I'm not getting back in my body. He should have known better, Dean berated himself. All angels except for Cas were two-faced dicks.
Not exactly, Castiel said, then tried to bring Dean up to speed. The angel failed miserably at giving Dean the details he needed to truly assess the situation (how pissed off Sam was, Michael's ready-to-smite level, stuff like that), but Dean gathered that Michael still wanted to use him as a vessel so he could kick the leviathan off the planet (and hello there, something else to feel guilty about, because the monster of all monsters apparently snuck through the portal after they came home, barnacle-style), Bobby and Sam objected, and Cas thought of a different solution.
So what's your genius Plan B? Dean asked.
Michael may be able to help you see and hear the world while you serve as his vessel, though you would not be able to act on your own.
Dean tried to imagine that. He'd only been possessed once, and that was by Michael and right after Ellie had used up most of his soul's battery power. He remembered being able to see and hear what the archangel did, but it was fragmented and exhausting. Plus, this could be a long-term deal. Who knew how long it would take until Michael was satisfied they'd beaten the leviathan. And what if some other Big Bad showed up? The world was a giant clown car of evil, and the Winchesters would always be on the front lines of that fight.
I don't know, Cas, Dean admitted. I don't know if I can handle knowing what's going on and not being able to do anything about it, and Michael might never leave. At least here I know I'm not going to be trapped forever.
It was Michael's suggestion that we ask your thoughts on this course of action, Cas returned. My brother means well, Dean. I am certain of that, and I am confident he will return to Heaven as soon as he secures humanity's safety.
Dean deliberated. If I have to share headspace with an angel, I'd rather it be you than Michael, he confessed.
Cas seemed pleased at that. I know, Dean. But Michael is right. We will need him in order to defeat the leviathan.
Can you ask him if he'd be able to give me the reins once in a while? Let me actually do stuff sometimes?
Castiel withdrew for a moment, but returned quickly, again sliding along Dean to let him know he was back. He isn't sure he'll be able to pull back enough to allow that. Cas sighed, then continued. He also said that he is the Prince and Commander of the Heavenly Host and he will not sit idly by during a fight.
Dean heard all those capital letters loud and clear. He bristled. He sure did during the apocalypse, which we stopped.
Castiel's touch flickered. Michael wishes me to tell you "That fight had not yet truly begun. If it had, this world would be ash.”
Apparently the angel had relayed Dean's comment verbatim.
He also says there is wisdom in Heaven's General and the Righteous Man both fighting in this battle, and I agree, Cas continued.
It would be nice to have celestial backup at all times, Dean thought. But there was one last hurdle holding him back... Will me being Michael's vessel mess with the power cord running between my soul and your grace? I don't want to agree to this and then have you waste away.
Castiel's grace cooled against Dean. No, my grace is whole again. I- His grace stilled. When I held the souls of Purgatory within me, it was an easy thing to fix.
Oh. Speaking of the souls and Cas's power trip... Cas, you almost damned yourself with that stunt back in Purgatory. Dean had felt it. That sickness would have eaten the angel up from the inside if he had held it much longer. Before I go back, I need to know why. Why would you do that to yourself?
For the same reason you damned yourself when Sam died. Love. Cas said it like it was obvious, like Dean should have known.
That doesn't make any sense! Dean protested.
I couldn't bear the thought of Ishtar destroying the world you died protecting, so I did the only think I could think of to save it.
The only thing he could think of was basically suicide? Had Cas thought Dean would just let him rot in Purgatory? Didn't you know I'd... Sam and I... would come for you?
I thought you were gone, Dean. You have taught me so much about what it means to be alive, Cas's grace swept tight around Dean, nice and toasty once again. Without you, the whole of creation seemed so much darker.
Dean warmed all over, then shook himself. He really needed to get back in his own body. Chick flick moments were uncomfortable to begin with. He didn't need to be having them while literally sharing headspace with the other person. Okay, I guess I get it, he told Cas. But if you ever do anything that stupid again, so help me, I'll kick your ass.
The angel's grace bubbled around him in what Dean interpreted as laughter. Come, Dean, Cas said softly. Let's get you back where you belong.
***
Sam squinted and shielded his eyes with one hand as brilliant golden-white light shone out from where Castiel's right hand rested on Dean's chest - or Michael's chest, he supposed. When the brightness faded, nothing had changed. Cas let his hand fall to his side and Michael stepped back, his eyes closed.
"Well?" Sam asked, raising his eyebrows.
Michael opened his eyes. "Dean is well. He wants to know if you are still 'hearing voices,' though I have assured him I repaired the wall."
Sam felt a hint of a smile on his face. "I'm fine, Dean." He tapped his forehead with one finger. "It feels like everything's back to normal up here."
Michael tilted his head, brow creasing. "He says you have never been normal." The archangel straightened. "This conversation is not an efficient use of our time. We must establish a plan to stop the leviathan before they establish a foothold in this world."
"Well, what do we know that'll hurt 'em?" Bobby asked, starting off the planning session with munitions.
Sam crammed the now-empty pizza box into the trashcan. "When we came across them in Purgatory, decapitation was the only sure way to keep them down, but it doesn't kill them," he said, striding back into the conversation in the living room. "But Dean had the most success using the Elhyim Yad on them. It looked like it burned them from the inside."
Castiel drew the weapon, back in the billiard-sized orb shape it had before Purgatory, out of his trench coat's inner pocket. He slid the tips of his fingers across its smooth surface for a moment, then shook his head. "I don't believe the weapon will be of much use to us now."
He held it out toward Michael, who stepped forward and took the orb. "Castiel is right," he confirmed after inspecting the weapon for himself. "The Elhyim Yad has no energy left, and Dean's soul cannot be used to power it whilst he is my vessel. That amount of strain would tear any human soul into pieces."
"So, we're back to decapitation," Bobby said. "Well, it's straightforward, at least. Bit messy though." He tugged on the frayed rim of his trucker cap. "Michael, you said we had to keep 'em from organizing." Michael nodded. "Well then, seems to me the best plan for now would be to have the two angels go find as many of the big-mouths as they can and hassle them until Sam and I can dig up a more permanent solution."
"Sound reasoning," Michael replied. "But leviathan are formidable opponents, even for angels, and there is only so much power I can wield without harming bystanders."
"I'm not asking for a war," Bobby stressed. "Just enough time to figure out how to shove them back into Purgatory for good."
"Bobby, we don't even know where to start looking," Sam pointed out. "If what Michael said is true, then leviathan haven't been on earth since before humans even existed."
Castiel stepped forward. "I know of only one source that would be old enough."
Michael frowned. "That knowledge is forbidden, Castiel."
Cas stepped forward, challenging. "Then let Father return and cast me down for giving it to them. I disobeyed and helped to save the world from Lucifer's hate and your obstinance. 'Forbidden' does not carry the same weight with me that it once did."
Michael drew himself up. He inhaled deep, nostrils flaring. Flint met steel as the angels’ eyes locked. Finally, Michael let out his breath and backed down. Gritting he teeth, he said, "Dean wants me to tell you that he's cheering on your rebellious words."
Sam rolled his eyes, opening a bottle of water to wash down the pizza. Of course that's what Dean would focus on. "What source is this you're talking about, Cas?" he asked.
Castiel looked at Michael, who disappeared in a gust of air. Cas looked back at Sam. "The Word of God."
Sam choked. "What?!"
"The Word of God, inscribed on tablets of stone," Castiel repeated. "Michael is retrieving it now."
Sure enough, Michael reappeared moments later, carrying two large stone tablets. He set them side by side on Bobby's desk. "Are you certain, Castiel? There is more written here than how to kill Leviathan."
Cas nodded. "Yes. If any two humans deserve the knowledge of angels, it is Sam Winchester and Bobby Singer."
"Aw, shucks." Bobby chimed sarcastically, sitting in his desk chair and examining the tablet. "Of course it's written in Enochian," he muttered.
The aging hunter sighed before looking up. "So, we know how to slow 'em down at least. Any idea what they want? It'd help pin down where they might be."
No one had an answer.
***
Ishtar loathed Dick Roman. On the arrogant prick’s orders, his cronies hosed her body down with frigid water, stuffed her into an ill-fitting, scratchy gray suit, and raked a comb through her tangled hair. Now, Roman had the utter audacity to sit before her in his modern, ornate office and lecture her as though she worked for him. She was the one who made his escape from Purgatory possible. Without her, this king would still have a prison for a kingdom and a mob of disloyal, back-stabbing subjects. She sat perfectly still in the uncomfortable office chair, crossed her arms and fumed.
"Don't look at me like that, darling," he soothed, voice as oily as his true form and the hair of the business mogul he posed as. "Of all the other creatures on the vast planet, you're the only thing out there I don't want to rub off the bottom of my shoe." He walked around the desk and loomed over her. "You and I, we're the oldest things around. We should be on the same side."
She glared at him. "Is that why you nearly tore me apart to get here? I am the only reason any of you made it through that portal."
Dick leaned back and nodded. "True. You know how to press your advantage. Fine." He showed her his teeth. "I'll let you go first. What do you think we should do now that we've made it to this rock."
Ishtar searched his stolen face, but found no ulterior motive. "We should destroy everything. Burn it all to the ground, like I was going to before the archangel cast me into Purgatory."
Dick chuckled. "No."
Her eyes narrowed. "No?"
"Absolutely not," he said. "Why would we revert to a failed plan? Roman Enterprises is all about moving forward, and your plan..." He gestured toward the door, which opened to let in five of his underlings. "Your plan would take us backward."
Ishtar leapt to her feet but Dick's entourage got to her first. Three of them wrestled her to the ground and the other two unhinged their jaws and exposed their fangs. Eyes wide, Ishtar tried jerk way, but her captors held her fast. Wide-open mouths descended toward her.
"No!" She screamed.
"That's enough," Dick said, calmly calling off his dogs. The teeth drew back, but the goddess remained pinned to the floor.
"Now, do we all remember who the CEO of this operation is?"
Ishtar swallowed and nodded.
"Fantastic!" Dick cheered. "Now we can get on to discussing my expectations and what you need to do in order to be successful in this company."
Ishtar ground her teeth to keep from lashing out at his posturing.
"Humans, I've observed, are gullible, panicky herd animals," Dick continued. Then the bastard projected a PowerPoint on the wall. Meaningless statistics scrolled by as he yammered on, enamored with the sound of his own voice. "Like most herd animals, we'll need to breed out some of their more undesirable traits before they're an ideal food source, but it should only take three or four generations to do that." He turned and grinned. "Since they have the life span of fruit flies, that's an acceptable time frame."
What a pompous idiot, Ishtar thought. Four human generations was more than enough time for them to rebel, riot, or have Heaven come to their rescue, but Ishtar wasn't going to tell Mr. Know-It-All that.
"Now, I know you're asking yourself, 'what's my role in this grand plan?'" Dick said, turning back toward her.
No, not really, she thought.
Dick waited a beat, frowned. His minions opened their mouths above her again. Cringing, she bent to his will. "What is my role in your grand plan?"
Dick showed his teeth again. "Glad you're on board, darling." He leaned back against his desk and crossed one ankle over the other. "I mentioned humans being panicky animals. You're going to give them something to panic about."
"You think they'll turn to you when the dead rise?"
Dick guffawed. "Of course not! One of our biggest advantages here is that collectively they are entirely unwilling to believe what's in front of them." He smirked. "No, they won't come to us when your hordes start destroying villages and towns. They'll come to us when a mutated rabies virus… or maybe we'll go with Mad Cow Disease-" he cut himself off and waved over his secretary. "Make a note to take that down to Market Research."
"Yes, Mr. Roman," she said and hurried off.
Dick looked back to Ishtar. "The humans will flock to us for a cure to a new disease that's turning the good folks down the street into violent animals. Roman Enterprises has been funding medical research for years, and we'll have a vaccine ready for release in a matter of weeks."
Ishtar met his gaze. "And what will this vaccine actually do?"
He grinned again. "You don't miss much, do you? I like that about you." He stood and rolled his shoulders. "The vaccine we're working on will slow the metabolism and inhibit higher brain function." He returned to the chair behind his desk and shuffled a few papers. "Once we perfect it, those changes will be permanent. For now, they'll ensure we can eat our meals in peace."
He waved one hand and his minions released her. Ishtar righted herself and rose to her feet. Dick looked up at her, unconcerned.
Ishtar knew if she challenged him now, she'd lose, and it grated. Gritting her teeth, she turned to leave.
"Oh, and darling," She looked over her shoulder. Dick stared her down, all business. "If you even think about trying to jump ship, I'll eat your heart out." His upper lip lifted. "Roman Enterprises has a hell of a non-compete."
The shouting shook motes of dust off the bookshelves in Bobby's living room as the older hunter tore into Michael for not letting Dean have his body back while Castiel stood nearby, ready to intervene if the argument got violent.
In the kitchen, Sam tore into his slice of cold pizza with more force than necessary, but he figured it was better to demolish Bobby's leftovers than his furniture. He'd devoured three slices and his stomach still growled at him. Being almost dead apparently worked up an appetite.
"I don't see why you think you need to stick around," Bobby growled. "That boy deserves to live his life, and he's saved this whole planet without your help before! Heck, we don't even know what it is we're fighting yet!"
"Leviathan." Cas's deep voice rang with the foreboding declaration. "I was unsure of it when I encountered them in Purgatory, but I don't know what else they could be."
Michael looked at Sam. "Is this true?"
"Yes, they're leviathan." Sam set the pizza aside. "We'll take care of it on our own, like we always do."
Michael glared. "You are arrogant to wager all life on this planet against your ability to fight an enemy you know nothing about."
"We handled them just fine in Purgatory," Sam argued, overstating things a bit.
Michael shook his head. "Purgatory was created by my Father to be their prison, to weaken them. Without that cage, they would have devoured the entire world. Make no mistake, you have never faced a foe like the leviathan before. If they get a chance to organize they will be nearly impossible to defeat."
Sam glared back. "We'll figure something out. If you want to help, do it from Heaven."
Michael stared him down. "I will be able to have a much greater impact here."
"Dean will have a greater impact here!" Sam ran his hands through his hair. "Don't you get it? This isn't about beating the leviathan. This is about me getting my brother back!"
Castiel stepped forward. "I may have a solution." He looked back and forth between them. "Neither of you will like it, but it may be the best compromise."
"What is in your mind, Castiel?" Michael asked.
The angel drew his chin up. "The point of contention is that Michael wishes to fight, and the rest of us wish to see Dean fight as well.” The two hunters and archangel nodded their agreement, and Castiel continued. “Before his soul passed on to heaven, there were moments when my vessel was aware, alert. Even now, Dean has some notion of what is happening around him."
Bobby uncrossed his arms and stepped toward them from where he'd been leaning against his desk. "What are you suggesting?"
Castiel's shoulders lifted in a slight shrug. "If I was able to keep Jimmy awake enough to speak to me, Michael should certainly be able to do that, and more, for Dean."
Sam shook his head. "Nice try, but I don't think Dean will appreciate being trapped in his own body like that."
Michael shifted his contemplative gaze from Sam to Castiel. "I propose we ask him."
***
Cas wasn't paying attention to him and Sammy left a long time ago. Dean didn't like it. He never really like being alone, but usually he hid it better. Now, when Cas's grace stroked him, a caress to let him know he wasn't forgotten, Dean soaked it up. Part of him wondered what was taking so long, but the rest was just happy to be this close to Cas again. Dean felt safe here like he hadn't since he was four years old. Though he knew he couldn't, he wanted to stay.
Dean, you cannot stay here forever. Cas's voice surrounded him. You have a life to live.
Dean sighed (or he would have, if he had lungs at the moment). I know. What's taking so long? Can't you find Michael?
Castiel's silence told Dean everything. Michael isn't going to leave, is he? I'm not getting back in my body. He should have known better, Dean berated himself. All angels except for Cas were two-faced dicks.
Not exactly, Castiel said, then tried to bring Dean up to speed. The angel failed miserably at giving Dean the details he needed to truly assess the situation (how pissed off Sam was, Michael's ready-to-smite level, stuff like that), but Dean gathered that Michael still wanted to use him as a vessel so he could kick the leviathan off the planet (and hello there, something else to feel guilty about, because the monster of all monsters apparently snuck through the portal after they came home, barnacle-style), Bobby and Sam objected, and Cas thought of a different solution.
So what's your genius Plan B? Dean asked.
Michael may be able to help you see and hear the world while you serve as his vessel, though you would not be able to act on your own.
Dean tried to imagine that. He'd only been possessed once, and that was by Michael and right after Ellie had used up most of his soul's battery power. He remembered being able to see and hear what the archangel did, but it was fragmented and exhausting. Plus, this could be a long-term deal. Who knew how long it would take until Michael was satisfied they'd beaten the leviathan. And what if some other Big Bad showed up? The world was a giant clown car of evil, and the Winchesters would always be on the front lines of that fight.
I don't know, Cas, Dean admitted. I don't know if I can handle knowing what's going on and not being able to do anything about it, and Michael might never leave. At least here I know I'm not going to be trapped forever.
It was Michael's suggestion that we ask your thoughts on this course of action, Cas returned. My brother means well, Dean. I am certain of that, and I am confident he will return to Heaven as soon as he secures humanity's safety.
Dean deliberated. If I have to share headspace with an angel, I'd rather it be you than Michael, he confessed.
Cas seemed pleased at that. I know, Dean. But Michael is right. We will need him in order to defeat the leviathan.
Can you ask him if he'd be able to give me the reins once in a while? Let me actually do stuff sometimes?
Castiel withdrew for a moment, but returned quickly, again sliding along Dean to let him know he was back. He isn't sure he'll be able to pull back enough to allow that. Cas sighed, then continued. He also said that he is the Prince and Commander of the Heavenly Host and he will not sit idly by during a fight.
Dean heard all those capital letters loud and clear. He bristled. He sure did during the apocalypse, which we stopped.
Castiel's touch flickered. Michael wishes me to tell you "That fight had not yet truly begun. If it had, this world would be ash.”
Apparently the angel had relayed Dean's comment verbatim.
He also says there is wisdom in Heaven's General and the Righteous Man both fighting in this battle, and I agree, Cas continued.
It would be nice to have celestial backup at all times, Dean thought. But there was one last hurdle holding him back... Will me being Michael's vessel mess with the power cord running between my soul and your grace? I don't want to agree to this and then have you waste away.
Castiel's grace cooled against Dean. No, my grace is whole again. I- His grace stilled. When I held the souls of Purgatory within me, it was an easy thing to fix.
Oh. Speaking of the souls and Cas's power trip... Cas, you almost damned yourself with that stunt back in Purgatory. Dean had felt it. That sickness would have eaten the angel up from the inside if he had held it much longer. Before I go back, I need to know why. Why would you do that to yourself?
For the same reason you damned yourself when Sam died. Love. Cas said it like it was obvious, like Dean should have known.
That doesn't make any sense! Dean protested.
I couldn't bear the thought of Ishtar destroying the world you died protecting, so I did the only think I could think of to save it.
The only thing he could think of was basically suicide? Had Cas thought Dean would just let him rot in Purgatory? Didn't you know I'd... Sam and I... would come for you?
I thought you were gone, Dean. You have taught me so much about what it means to be alive, Cas's grace swept tight around Dean, nice and toasty once again. Without you, the whole of creation seemed so much darker.
Dean warmed all over, then shook himself. He really needed to get back in his own body. Chick flick moments were uncomfortable to begin with. He didn't need to be having them while literally sharing headspace with the other person. Okay, I guess I get it, he told Cas. But if you ever do anything that stupid again, so help me, I'll kick your ass.
The angel's grace bubbled around him in what Dean interpreted as laughter. Come, Dean, Cas said softly. Let's get you back where you belong.
***
Sam squinted and shielded his eyes with one hand as brilliant golden-white light shone out from where Castiel's right hand rested on Dean's chest - or Michael's chest, he supposed. When the brightness faded, nothing had changed. Cas let his hand fall to his side and Michael stepped back, his eyes closed.
"Well?" Sam asked, raising his eyebrows.
Michael opened his eyes. "Dean is well. He wants to know if you are still 'hearing voices,' though I have assured him I repaired the wall."
Sam felt a hint of a smile on his face. "I'm fine, Dean." He tapped his forehead with one finger. "It feels like everything's back to normal up here."
Michael tilted his head, brow creasing. "He says you have never been normal." The archangel straightened. "This conversation is not an efficient use of our time. We must establish a plan to stop the leviathan before they establish a foothold in this world."
"Well, what do we know that'll hurt 'em?" Bobby asked, starting off the planning session with munitions.
Sam crammed the now-empty pizza box into the trashcan. "When we came across them in Purgatory, decapitation was the only sure way to keep them down, but it doesn't kill them," he said, striding back into the conversation in the living room. "But Dean had the most success using the Elhyim Yad on them. It looked like it burned them from the inside."
Castiel drew the weapon, back in the billiard-sized orb shape it had before Purgatory, out of his trench coat's inner pocket. He slid the tips of his fingers across its smooth surface for a moment, then shook his head. "I don't believe the weapon will be of much use to us now."
He held it out toward Michael, who stepped forward and took the orb. "Castiel is right," he confirmed after inspecting the weapon for himself. "The Elhyim Yad has no energy left, and Dean's soul cannot be used to power it whilst he is my vessel. That amount of strain would tear any human soul into pieces."
"So, we're back to decapitation," Bobby said. "Well, it's straightforward, at least. Bit messy though." He tugged on the frayed rim of his trucker cap. "Michael, you said we had to keep 'em from organizing." Michael nodded. "Well then, seems to me the best plan for now would be to have the two angels go find as many of the big-mouths as they can and hassle them until Sam and I can dig up a more permanent solution."
"Sound reasoning," Michael replied. "But leviathan are formidable opponents, even for angels, and there is only so much power I can wield without harming bystanders."
"I'm not asking for a war," Bobby stressed. "Just enough time to figure out how to shove them back into Purgatory for good."
"Bobby, we don't even know where to start looking," Sam pointed out. "If what Michael said is true, then leviathan haven't been on earth since before humans even existed."
Castiel stepped forward. "I know of only one source that would be old enough."
Michael frowned. "That knowledge is forbidden, Castiel."
Cas stepped forward, challenging. "Then let Father return and cast me down for giving it to them. I disobeyed and helped to save the world from Lucifer's hate and your obstinance. 'Forbidden' does not carry the same weight with me that it once did."
Michael drew himself up. He inhaled deep, nostrils flaring. Flint met steel as the angels’ eyes locked. Finally, Michael let out his breath and backed down. Gritting he teeth, he said, "Dean wants me to tell you that he's cheering on your rebellious words."
Sam rolled his eyes, opening a bottle of water to wash down the pizza. Of course that's what Dean would focus on. "What source is this you're talking about, Cas?" he asked.
Castiel looked at Michael, who disappeared in a gust of air. Cas looked back at Sam. "The Word of God."
Sam choked. "What?!"
"The Word of God, inscribed on tablets of stone," Castiel repeated. "Michael is retrieving it now."
Sure enough, Michael reappeared moments later, carrying two large stone tablets. He set them side by side on Bobby's desk. "Are you certain, Castiel? There is more written here than how to kill Leviathan."
Cas nodded. "Yes. If any two humans deserve the knowledge of angels, it is Sam Winchester and Bobby Singer."
"Aw, shucks." Bobby chimed sarcastically, sitting in his desk chair and examining the tablet. "Of course it's written in Enochian," he muttered.
The aging hunter sighed before looking up. "So, we know how to slow 'em down at least. Any idea what they want? It'd help pin down where they might be."
No one had an answer.
***
Ishtar loathed Dick Roman. On the arrogant prick’s orders, his cronies hosed her body down with frigid water, stuffed her into an ill-fitting, scratchy gray suit, and raked a comb through her tangled hair. Now, Roman had the utter audacity to sit before her in his modern, ornate office and lecture her as though she worked for him. She was the one who made his escape from Purgatory possible. Without her, this king would still have a prison for a kingdom and a mob of disloyal, back-stabbing subjects. She sat perfectly still in the uncomfortable office chair, crossed her arms and fumed.
"Don't look at me like that, darling," he soothed, voice as oily as his true form and the hair of the business mogul he posed as. "Of all the other creatures on the vast planet, you're the only thing out there I don't want to rub off the bottom of my shoe." He walked around the desk and loomed over her. "You and I, we're the oldest things around. We should be on the same side."
She glared at him. "Is that why you nearly tore me apart to get here? I am the only reason any of you made it through that portal."
Dick leaned back and nodded. "True. You know how to press your advantage. Fine." He showed her his teeth. "I'll let you go first. What do you think we should do now that we've made it to this rock."
Ishtar searched his stolen face, but found no ulterior motive. "We should destroy everything. Burn it all to the ground, like I was going to before the archangel cast me into Purgatory."
Dick chuckled. "No."
Her eyes narrowed. "No?"
"Absolutely not," he said. "Why would we revert to a failed plan? Roman Enterprises is all about moving forward, and your plan..." He gestured toward the door, which opened to let in five of his underlings. "Your plan would take us backward."
Ishtar leapt to her feet but Dick's entourage got to her first. Three of them wrestled her to the ground and the other two unhinged their jaws and exposed their fangs. Eyes wide, Ishtar tried jerk way, but her captors held her fast. Wide-open mouths descended toward her.
"No!" She screamed.
"That's enough," Dick said, calmly calling off his dogs. The teeth drew back, but the goddess remained pinned to the floor.
"Now, do we all remember who the CEO of this operation is?"
Ishtar swallowed and nodded.
"Fantastic!" Dick cheered. "Now we can get on to discussing my expectations and what you need to do in order to be successful in this company."
Ishtar ground her teeth to keep from lashing out at his posturing.
"Humans, I've observed, are gullible, panicky herd animals," Dick continued. Then the bastard projected a PowerPoint on the wall. Meaningless statistics scrolled by as he yammered on, enamored with the sound of his own voice. "Like most herd animals, we'll need to breed out some of their more undesirable traits before they're an ideal food source, but it should only take three or four generations to do that." He turned and grinned. "Since they have the life span of fruit flies, that's an acceptable time frame."
What a pompous idiot, Ishtar thought. Four human generations was more than enough time for them to rebel, riot, or have Heaven come to their rescue, but Ishtar wasn't going to tell Mr. Know-It-All that.
"Now, I know you're asking yourself, 'what's my role in this grand plan?'" Dick said, turning back toward her.
No, not really, she thought.
Dick waited a beat, frowned. His minions opened their mouths above her again. Cringing, she bent to his will. "What is my role in your grand plan?"
Dick showed his teeth again. "Glad you're on board, darling." He leaned back against his desk and crossed one ankle over the other. "I mentioned humans being panicky animals. You're going to give them something to panic about."
"You think they'll turn to you when the dead rise?"
Dick guffawed. "Of course not! One of our biggest advantages here is that collectively they are entirely unwilling to believe what's in front of them." He smirked. "No, they won't come to us when your hordes start destroying villages and towns. They'll come to us when a mutated rabies virus… or maybe we'll go with Mad Cow Disease-" he cut himself off and waved over his secretary. "Make a note to take that down to Market Research."
"Yes, Mr. Roman," she said and hurried off.
Dick looked back to Ishtar. "The humans will flock to us for a cure to a new disease that's turning the good folks down the street into violent animals. Roman Enterprises has been funding medical research for years, and we'll have a vaccine ready for release in a matter of weeks."
Ishtar met his gaze. "And what will this vaccine actually do?"
He grinned again. "You don't miss much, do you? I like that about you." He stood and rolled his shoulders. "The vaccine we're working on will slow the metabolism and inhibit higher brain function." He returned to the chair behind his desk and shuffled a few papers. "Once we perfect it, those changes will be permanent. For now, they'll ensure we can eat our meals in peace."
He waved one hand and his minions released her. Ishtar righted herself and rose to her feet. Dick looked up at her, unconcerned.
Ishtar knew if she challenged him now, she'd lose, and it grated. Gritting her teeth, she turned to leave.
"Oh, and darling," She looked over her shoulder. Dick stared her down, all business. "If you even think about trying to jump ship, I'll eat your heart out." His upper lip lifted. "Roman Enterprises has a hell of a non-compete."