Chapter 3: When Angel met Pagan
When Angel met Pagan
Castiel left Bobby Singer’s home shortly after Sam and Dean received the Phoenix ash from Samuel Colt. His wound was nearly healed but the death of Rachel weighed heavily upon him. It wasn’t questioned amongst his supporters, probably because Raphael’s forces were closing in upon them and their battles were becoming more guerrilla and desperate in nature. Thus weakened, it was easy for the Pagan Trio to track him and easier still to summon him to their presence without opposition.
“What is the meaning of this?” Castiel demanded looking around the empty warehouse from within the circle of burning holy oil he found himself standing inside. The circle of fire flared briefly and the growling of a wolf or hound echoed around the warehouse.
There was a movement to the left and he turned towards it as Hel, flanked by Fenrir and Vali in wolf form, stepped towards him. Pagan and Angel studied one another in considered silence while the wolves circled around the flames with feral grace.
Hel eventually spoke, “I was expecting someone else.”
“Who did you expect, Pagan?” Castiel asked taking in the pacing wolves but focused upon the woman in front of him.
“An obedient soldier of the Christian God But there is something a little impure about you Angel, maybe that's why our father thought you worth his friendship.” Hel watched the angel for any reaction. A fleeting smile crossed her face at his reply.
“I doubt friendship with a Pagan cannibal is worth much, Madam," Castiel said sarcastically. The wolves growled in response.
“Calm down Fenrir, Vali. And if that Pagan Cannibal was your brother and sometime Archangel Gabriel, would that change your opinion?” Hel asked.
“We need not debate this Hel, he is murderer and a coward,” Fenrir spat in anger morphing back into humanoid form. Vali did the same and they continued circling around Castiel.
”Fenrir is right. He works together with the devil who slaughters our kin.” Vali spoke softly but no less vehemently than his brother.
“So say you and your kin are monsters and murderers of mankind, the same as you three and I have nothing to say or explain to forgotten gods as you," Castiel retorted looking for weaknesses he could exploit.
“If that is true, why hunt our kin, Angel? Why are we so important, we monsters that you work alongside one of Lucifer's children, Angel? What does your father say, Angel? He whom mankind believes in, prayers to? He who set brother against brother for his own entertainment?" Fenrir walked slowly around the circle of fire, looking for the opening in which to attack the trapped angel.
Vali circled in opposition to his brother and continued to try and bait the angel. “Away is best. At least your father thinks so, our parentage is described as untrustworthy and dangerous but we knew them, didn't we Fenrir. Have you met your father, Angel? Has he consented to your partnership with Crowley?
Castiel’s eyes widened involuntarily at Crowley’s name and the brothers howled in rage.
“You saw sister, he doesn't deny his affair. Quench the fire so we can show the same justice he has shown our kin," Fenrir turned to his sister in rage.
“NO,” Hel said and the brothers howled and morphed back into their wolf form. They paced and growled in frustration while she spoke with Castiel. “So. You want your elder brothers released from their cage to begin again an Apocalypse you have already lost? Not wise, Castiel. That is your name?"
“My name is Castiel. I do not want Michael and Lucifer released. That is what Raphael wants,” Castiel answered too tired to keep up the pretense any longer. Whatever the pagan gods wanted he was in no state to fight them and it was more strategic to pretend to hear them out and fight later.
“Loki said that you truly believed in your Father. He gave me a token that you once used in search for your God. He said that it was given to you by a righteous man. Do you recognize this, Angel?" Hel lifted the amulet from beneath her clothing and let it fall visible to the angel. Castiel’s his gaze held upon the amulet, given him by Dean so long ago and believed lost as Hel spoke again.
”I have been asked to offer your help Castiel, both from Loki and Death. Why? I do not know. Neither do I particularly care, the affairs of the living and your God are not my concern. In memory of Loki and with respect for Death, if you should ask me for help I will offer what I can. The question is whether you choose to seek help from a 'forgotten goddess of death and her wolf brothers'. Think about that and the fact that I will not hinder my brothers from seeking vengeance against you or this Crowley should you decide against our help."
Hel raised her hand and the fire was quenched. Castiel found himself alone in the abandoned warehouse with Dean’s lost amulet lying on the ground. He picked it up. Lost in thought he returned to his hidden guardianship of the Winchesters and Bobby Singer. As he watched them torture the demon possessing the hunter known as Red for information that would lead them even closer to the truth he’d tried so hard to hide, Castiel felt the amulet begin to warm in his hand.
He remembered telling Dean it burnt in the presence of God. Castiel didn’t believe his Father was present but perhaps that wasn’t the point. He’d been given a choice. Continue dealing with Crowley in the search for Purgatory and its promised power or deal with the Pagans and whatever promise of help they could provide. He left to deal with Elsworth, the demonic equivalent to Bobby and by doing so inadvertently exposed his duplicity to the hunters.
Chapter 4