CASTIEL'S REQUIEM

Chapter 38: Hades

Dedicated to KanuChiomaAngel

Uriel's eyes scanned the desert landscape, her mind racing with the weight of Castiel's instructions. Find Mikhael, the Archangel of War and Justice, at all costs. The fate of Earth hung in the balance, a fragile thread that could snap if Cariel, Castiel's malevolent twin, gained the upper hand. Rafael's rugged 4x4 vehicle bounced along the dusty road, Ariel's complaints about the rough ride piercing the air. Uriel's grip on her sword tightened, her thoughts consumed by the looming battle ahead. She could feel the darkness gathering, like a storm on the horizon.

"Are we there yet?" Ariel quipped, her irritation palpable as she tossed her blonde hair and tapped her foot impatiently.

Uriel's eyes flicked to the signpost ahead, her gaze lingering on the weathered letters: Nizzana. "Nope, we're headed to Vered Ha-Galil," she replied, her voice low and even, her eyes scanning the arid landscape. The last time she'd set foot in this land, two millennia ago, Immanuel's birth in Bethlehem had been a beacon of hope. Now, the dusty roads and crumbling ruins seemed a far cry from that sacred moment. Uriel's thoughts strayed to Castiel, her concern gnawing like a persistent ache. Silence from her sister was never a good sign. "Why exactly are we here?" Ariel pressed, her tone laced with skepticism, as Rafael's eyes narrowed, his grip on the steering wheel tightening. "To find Mikhael," Uriel replied, her voice firm, her eyes flashing with determination. The Archangel of War and Justice was her only lead, and Uriel swore she wouldn't rest until she found her. The trio's tension was palpable, their quest hanging precariously in the balance.

—_—

Castiel's world was shrouded in darkness, a suffocating void that crushed her lungs and paralyzed her limbs. She was trapped, frozen in time, her voice silenced by some unseen force. "HELP!" she screamed, but the sound was trapped in her mind, unable to escape her lips. The darkness was alive, pulsing with malevolent energy, as phantoms with glowing red eyes, razor-sharp fangs, and claws closing in on her. They clawed at her, their touch like ice, leaving no physical wounds but shredding her sanity. Fear unlike any she had ever known consumed her, threatening to shatter the foundations of her very being. And then, suddenly, the darkness receded, and Castiel found herself lying face up on scorching sand, her back burning from the intense heat. Groggily, she sat up, her q1 protesting with a violent cough as she inhaled the stale desert air. Weakness seeped into her bones, her knees trembling like leaves as she struggled to stand, her fists clenched in the sand to steady herself. The desert stretched out before her, endless dunes of sand with no refuge in sight. Castiel's heart raced, her mind reeling: where was she? How did she get here?
"I'm so damn thirsty," Caz muttered, her parched throat burning as if she hadn't had water in ages. With newfound determination, she set out to find a way out of the desolate landscape, knowing that her only hope lay in finding water first. She was trapped in the in-between world, purgatory, a realm humans believed was impossible to escape. The only way out was through summoning or rescue, and as a fallen angel, Caz knew her options were limited. She'd rather perish than ask Samael, the one being who might be able to help her, for assistance. With a deep breath, she trudged through the scorching sand, her booted feet sinking into the dunes. Wiping the sweat from her forehead, she pressed on, her lungs protesting with each step. Five hours passed, maybe more, but Caz refused to give up. She coughed violently, her body screaming for mercy, but she pushed on, driven by her unyielding resolve.
Five hours later, or maybe more - time was meaningless in her delirious state - Caz spotted a tree with lush green leaves, thriving despite the harsh surroundings. The tree stood about seven feet three inches tall, its branches heavy with golden fruits that resembled a hybrid of almonds, watermelons, and apples. The fruits were large and juicy, and Caz knew they were her only hope for quenching her thirst. She stumbled towards the tree's shade, but a loud hooting sound stopped her in her tracks. Looking up, she saw a massive owl perched on a branch, its eyes fixed on her. Next to the owl, a large green and black serpent hissed menacingly. "You're not welcome here, Death," the serpent spat venomously. Caz's eyes narrowed as she recognized the serpent. "Serpentino, I thought I killed you," she hissed, her anger reignited. "Ah, Azrael, how naive of you," Serpentino sneered. "You thought you could eliminate someone as powerful as me? I didn't die, I was reborn to rule this realm alone."
The owl beside Serpentino hoots again, diverting her attention from the vile creature. "Sorry, darling," Serpentino apologizes to the owl, "reborn to rule beside my queen." He corrects his previous error. Caz, however, is uninterested in his words. "Listen, snake, just get out of my way. I need to get out of here and find my way back to Dawn City," she says, her tone bored. But Serpentino refuses to budge. 'Not so fast, Death,' he hisses, his body weaving in a strange motion. Suddenly, the sand dunes erupt like a wave, crashing and shaking the ground violently. Craters form, and boulders emerge, spewing forth creatures from nightmares: phantoms, trolls, and ogres. At least a hundred of them, their eyes glowing red, claws and fangs at the ready. Caz recognizes them as the souls of damned angels, doomed to roam the wasteland, preying on the blood of angels. "Here you go, guys," Serpentino sneers, "I brought you a present, Death."

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How did it go guys..