by Amelia Esla
"Cas, whats wrong?"
Castiel moved a step closer to them. "I take it you don't know what she is."
The three of them shared a look of alarm and surprise. "You know what she is?" Bobby asked. He had been helping her figure that out for months now, and learned nothing new.
"Of course I do. She's an Angel."
18- Fallen
"I'm sorry?" Megan didn't even try to hold back her shock. It was the answer she had been searching for for quite a long time now... could it really be true?
"You're an angel. Or at least, you used to be. You seem to have... fallen." Castiel spoke the final word with a look of disgust that had Dean on the defensive immediately.
"What the hell does that mean? How can you stop being an angel?"
Castiel frowned. (Dean noted that he seemed to do that a lot.) "You can't. Not truly. But the closest you can get is falling, which is what Megan did. She gave up her grace and fell to the Earth as a human. She... she wouldn't have been the first. Since the disappearance of my father, the angels have gone mad. That's why they started the apocalypse in the first place."
He ignored the shocked expressions on Megan's and Bobby's faces. "Other angels, however, took a different route. They fell- they gave up their angelic grace and became human. Of course, they will never fully be human, but enough to pass by unnoticed." Cas motioned to Megan. "Megan, as you now call yourself, is one of them. That is why you cannot remember who you are. You chose to forget."
Megan shook her head. "How can that be true? How could I just loose all those memories?"
"Your angelic memories reside with your grace. Unless you were reunited with it, you will only recall your human-memories."
Megan put her head in her hands, and Bobby put his hand on Megan's shoulder, reassuringly. She allowed herself to sink into it. "It's okay, Megan. I'm sure this is all explainable. Right, Castiel?"
"I believe I just explained it."
"Can we... can she get her grace back?" Dean asked. They were in the middle of two apocalypses at the moment, and it would certainly give them a leg up on the bad-guys to have a super-charged Megan on their side. Assuming she was willing...
Castiel seemed hesitant. "It's possible. We'd have to find it."
"Well, how hard could that be?"
"With the war in Heaven, and the apocalypse underway, a lot of angels have been disappearing recently." Cas explained. Some of the angels in Heaven have been collecting the fallen graces. If we are lucky, and I sincerely doubt we are, Megan's grace will be there."
Bobby sighed. "Let me guess. They're heavily guarded by a bunch of winged-dgits still loyal to Heaven?"
Cas squinted. "I wouldn't put it those words, but... yes. It would be, difficult, to say the least."
Megan finally spoke up. "I want to do it. I want to find my grace."
Dena eyed her, wondering if she had the same idea he had. He didn't want her to feel obligated to do anything. Especially something that put her in danger. "You don't have to, Megan..."
"Yes, I do. I have to know." Megan insisted. "Besides, once I get my grace back, I assume I'll get full use of my angelic powers, right, Castiel?"
Cas nodded.
"You guys don't have to go with me. I don't want anyone getting hurt..."
Dean shook his head. "No. If you want to do this, we'll be right there with you."
"Damn straight," Bobby tipped his cap.
"I will assist you, if you want." Cas offered. He had a feeling Megan would be essential to stopping his brothers foul plans. If nothing else, he doubted Dean would be as willing to help him if his friend went and got herself killed. Human's were irrational like that.
"We're gonna need it, Cas." Dean patted him on the shoulder. "So, when are we going?"
"I don't even know what supplies to bring for fighting angels..." Bobby shrugged.
"I can secure the supplies." Castiel promised. "I have some stashed away... I can retrieve them and bring them back here. "
Castiel straightened his back as if he was about to poof away, and Dean reached out to stop him. "Wait! Uh, I'll go with you..."
Castiel stared at him suspiciously for a moment before nodding. He grabbed onto Deans arm. "We'll return shortly," His addressed Bobby and Megan.
Megan blinked as the two men suddenly disappeared. "What do we do, now?"
Bobby shrugged. "I have no idea."
…
Dean felt sick when they landed. He was curled over, dry heaving because there was nothing in his system to puke up. He probably should have planned this better, and stayed back with Bobby and Megan, but he had to talk to Cas alone.
Castiel was standing over him, his hand extended. "I take it you don't feel well."
Dean laughed dryly. "I guess you could say I feel like Hell." He accepted the angels help back up to his feet. He glanced around at the broken down building they were standing in. The shattered window looked out into complete darkness. Wherever they were, it was late. "Where are we?"
"Iran. Come on, it's over here." Castiel opened the door to a smaller room and went inside. Dean hastily followed.
Cas knelt down beside a chest on the ground. What seemed to be hundreds of markings Dean didn't recognize were etched into the wood with a steady hand. "You keep your angel-killing supplies in a chest in Iraq?"
"Iran. I move the chest around often, to keep it from being found. It's warded against most everything on this Earth and beyond." Castiel replied dismissively, obviously not realizing how awesome Dean found that to be.
As Cas struggled to open it, Dean decided to take the opportunity to ask his questions. "Hey, Cas... what's going on with my brother?"
"I already told you."
"No, you told me what those demonic bastards and your crazy family want to do with him."
Castiel sighed, not looking up from the chest. "I'm afraid they got to him before we did. The demon Ruby took him somewhere we cannot find him. I do not know where he his, but I can guess what he's doing."
"What is he doing, then?"
"Training. For the apocalypse. He was always meant to be the demons leader. And once the End is over, the demons will likely take it as an opportunity to inherit the Earth, with Sam as their faithful leader.
They've had him for a long time, Dean. Training him. Brainwashing him. Even if we somehow found him, it wouldn't be Sam anymore."
Dean clenched his jaw, trying not to panic. His brother wasn't gone. He couldn't be. Dean went to Hell so this kid could live. "Doesn't matter. We still have to find him."
"My brothers and sisters, and through them, the demons, know we are working against them. They know we are a threat." The latch of the chest finally gave away, and Castiel opened it. "We can look for him if you wish, but he'll more than likely find us, first."
Castiel handed Dean an Angel Blade and a bottle of Holy Oil. "Take this. I'll explain more about them when we get to the others."
Dean accepted them. "Cas... do you think we can actually win this? Even with Megan at full power?"
Castiel paused. Honestly, no. He didn't. But when humans asked questions like that, they rarely wanted the truth. "Yes. I think we are more than capable, together. But it will not be easy."
Cas grabbed his arm again, and this time gave him the opportunity to prepare himself before zapping them to the others.
…
"I can help you, Sam... I can help you stop it all." Ruby's smooth voice whispered into his ears.
"You and I... we can put everything back to normal." She promised. Her hands running along his sides. "No more zombies. No more running. Your friends, and a lot of good people out there, can finally get the rest they deserve. And they'll owe it all to you."
Sam tried to push Ruby's seductive voice out of his head for the moment. It had been months since she had promised him a way to finally win against the undead, and yet they had done nothing but train ever since. She still wouldn't tell him exactly how they were going to stop it, yet- he was going off bli
nd faith, which he despised doing. But he had to trust her. With Dean dead, he had no one else.
"You can trust me, Sammy. I want this as badly as you do. This is what Dean would have wanted."
He sure hoped so.
19- Grace
"This can only go badly," Bobby muttered to himself, clutching his Angel Blade. Megan looked terrified at the idea of actually having to stab somebody, and Dean was still fresh from the grave. They weren't exactly what he would call a force to be reckoned with.
"It's going to be tricky to get into Heaven without being noticed." Castiel explained to the group. "I think I've found a back-way to keep us hidden, but we won't remain that way for long. Are you ready?"
Everyone glanced at each other as they nodded hesitantly. "Now or never, Cas."
Megan thought she could feel her heart stop beating, and her lungs stop pumping, and her whole body literally stop for the half-a-second before they landed. It was such a strange experience, she couldn't believe that she used to do this all the time. Although, her angelic experience probably helped her out, she figured, as she glanced at Dean and Bobby, who looked like Hell.
"I'll never fucking get used to that..." Dean breathed. "Are we here?"
They all looked around. It didn't look at all what they were expecting.
Heaven was supposed to be fluffy clouds and harps and flying babies with bows and arrows. Instead, they found themselves in an endless white hallway. The walls were blank except small grey signs marking each door.
Castiel's face was stone cold. "Follow me."
Moving through the hallway was disorienting, because you knew you were making progress, but you couldn't tell. Everything looked the same, but somehow Castiel knew exactly where they were going.
It didn't take long for someone to realize they were there. "Castiel."
A woman's cold voice came from behind them. The angel held her own Angel Blade, which she held in her hand, ready to strike.
Castiel looked at her sadly. "Amitiel, please. Do not fight me."
Amitiel shook her head. "I cannot let you pass, Castiel. I must obey Heaven's orders. It's what God wants."
"You really think our father wants this? This war? This death?"
"Have you ever actually read the bible, Castiel?" Amitiel leaped forward, lifting the blade. "This is his wish."
Castiel was quick to kill, shoving the blade through her chest as she went forward. Her body went limp in his arms, and he gently laid her down.
The rest of the group stood, silently. Finally, Castiel spoke. "We have to keep moving. They know we're here."
They were almost at the door when more angels appeared. One threw Dean across the room, and he landed with a thud against the wall. Castiel launched at the closest one, knocking the blade out of his hand. The angel, now unarmed, swung at Cas with his fist, off balancing him.
Megan clutched her blade as one of the angels approached her. He was huge, two or three times Megan's size. But he didn't appear threatening- he held his hands up to show peace. "I know you're one of us- you used to be."
Megan nodded. "I don't remember anything. That's why I'm trying to find my grace."
The angel looked back at the fight. "I will help you get your grace. You have been out of it for a long time, I cannot blame you for who you have chosen to align yourself with."
Megan felt hesitant. She didn't know if she could trust this guy, yet. "What do you mean?"
"Castiel. He is a traitor. He is going against the will of Heaven, and the will of our Father. He is to be killed on sight. Help me kill him, and I will get you your grace."
Dean felt the angels fist connect with his face again and again. His sight was blurry, and he couldn't see well. "Back from Hell so soon, huh, Winchester?" The angel sneered. "And you've teamed up with the angel Castiel? Figures you'd find someone like him. Although I must say, I'm a little surprised you want to stop our plan. Seeing as how you started it all."
"What the fuck are you talking about?" Dean hissed, reaching for the Angel Blade he had dropped.
The angel kicked the blade away. "In Hell. All those poor souls you tortured? That was the first step- the first seal broken- towards this whole apocalypse. All us in Heaven should actually be thanking you right now."
Suddenly, Dean saw a blade go through the angels back and out his chest. The angels face suddenly changed, and bright blue light shone through. Bobby threw the body to the side, pulling out his blade. "You good?" Bobby asked, helping him up. Dean just nodded.
Bobby could tell something was wrong right away. Dean's face looked haunted. He couldn't hear what the angel had said to his boy, but whatever it was, it had seriously affected him. "Come on, boy. Let's go."
"I can't..." Megan sputtered. "Cas... he's helping us! He saved Dean!"
The angel shook his head. "He is not what you think he is. He's power-hungry. He started this war so he could take over Heaven himself."
Megan didn't know very much about Castiel, but she knew Dean trusted him, and she knew what he had done for them so far. "No. I won't kill him."
"Fine. Suit yourself. I'm sorry, Sister-" He reached up with the blade, going to strike. Megan threw her hand out, slicing his chest with the blade. The angel screamed out, lashing forward.
Megan managed to push the blade into his chest.
Castiel took care of the last two angels, leaving the hallway filled with only empty bodies. "This is the door." He panting.
The group approached the only door they had seen so far with no markings on it. Castiel opened the door, and they all went inside.
The room was huge, but unlike the hallway, it seemed to end. The only thing in the room were shelves, filled with small viles. Each vile contained what Dean could guess were Angel Graces.
Castiel wandered over to some of the graces. "I do not know which one is yours. Only you will know."
Megan went up to his side. She looked over the graces, but they all looked the same to her. "I... I don't know how to tell."
"You'll feel it, trust me. You'll know." Castiel took her arm, and led her down the isles.
Dean and Bobby stayed near the door, in case more angels showed up. Bobby glanced over at Dean, who was still pale. "Alright, boy, spill it. What did the angel say to ya?"
Dean didn't answer right away. "Nothin'." He lied.
"Don't you try pullin' my chain, boy. Something's seriously bothering you."
Dean looked up at Castiel and Megan. He wondered if Cas knew what the other angel told him. "I... I started this."
"Started what?"
"The angel's plan. The apocalypse. It was my fault the angels even had a chance at the whole thing."
"Wait! I... I think this is it."
Megan grasped onto one of the viles. As soon as she saw this one, she just knew. She knew it was hers.
It was time. Finally, she would know who she really was.
20- Freedom
"Are you sure you want to do this?" Dean asked for the thousandth time. He was uneasy about Megan getting her grace back. Would she still be herself? Or would she be a self-centered douche bag like all the other angels seemed to be?
"I do. I want this." Megan assured him. She had spent far too long trying to figure out what she was. She wasn't about to give up in the last half-mile.
Castiel held the vile in his hands. He could feel the warmth and energy radiating off of it. She was a powerful angel, that much he could tell. But only when her grace was returned to her, would he truly know who she was. "Are you ready to receive your true form?"
Megan didn't hesitate to say yes. She was afraid if she did, she'd change her mind.
Castiel opened the vile, and the four of them watched the blue light leak out. It was beautiful- glowing and warm and welcoming. It flew up out of the vile, and floated towards Megan. Megan tensed as it neared her, but stood still as it approached.
Abruptly, the grace changed speeds, ramming into her and cramming the light down her throat. She let out a wail as
it filled her body. She felt as if her skin was being ripped off, yet it was perfectly intact.
Finally, it stopped. She felt weak at first, falling to the floor. Bobby was the first to help her up. "Megan? You okay, kid? You with me?"
Megan nodded lethargically. Dean turned to Cas for answers. "What the hell, dude? I thought she would be... stronger?"
Cas didn't answer. He just stared at her.
After a few moments, Megan felt her body change again. She felt it now. Her grace. Her power. It was white hot inside her, but it didn't hurt. It just was. Suddenly, she felt powerful. She knew her own strength for the first time in a long time. And most importantly, she remembered.
She looked up at the three men. "I know who I am."
"So do I." Castiel stepped forward. "You're... you're an Angel of Freedom."
…
"What the hell is an Angel of Freedom?" Dean questioned. The two angels were staring at each other with a look of understanding. He didn't like it. He was an outsider now, and he needed insider knowledge. "Hello?"
"They are very powerful angels." Castiel explained. "Sometimes known as Malachim or the Tarshashim. Her purpose is to remove the obstacles to freedom. She, and other Angels of Freedom, were the first to truly accept the Human Race. That is why they chose falling over the apocalypse."
"It's not very clear..." Megan admitted. "But I remember some of my time as an angel."
Castiel's eyes widened. "This... this is good news. Megan, you are more powerful than I even thought. You are the key we've been waiting for."
"How?"
"Do you know the story of Lilith?" Castiel asked.
Dean shrugged. "Kinda. She was the chick before Eve. But she got kicked out cause she wouldn't listen to Adam."
Castiel nodded. "She chose to go her own way. She chose freedom. But because of that, she was sent away, and doomed to an eternity in Hell and became the first demon. She lost the freedom she had gained. She became the Devil's minion. That's why Megan can destroy her. She is the Angel of Freedom. She is the exact opposite of what Lilith is. Megan won't just kill her. She will wipe her from existence."