CASTIEL'S REQUIEM

Chapter 49: Got played.

The air was thick with tension as the group stood frozen, the only sound the soft hum of the nightclub's neon lights. Lucifer's smile grew wider, his eyes gleaming with elation as he held the vial aloft. Castiel's face twisted in a mixture of anger and pain, her eyes blazing with fury. The other angels stood in stunned silence, their faces etched with surprise and concern.

Mikhael's eyes narrowed, her hand instinctively reaching for her sword. Ariel's mouth hung open, her eyes darting between Castiel and Lucifer. The other angels seemed to hold their breath, waiting for the inevitable explosion.

And then, Lucifer vanished into thin air, leaving the group to erupt into chaos.

Lucifer smirked at Castiel as the portals opened, revealing he had successfully tricked her. He vanished into thin air, taking the vial with him.

"You bastard!" Castiel roared, jumping at Lucifer but missing him. She punched the ground in frustration, her anger causing the club to crumble around them. "Shit... Shit... Shit..."

The other angels watched in fascination as Castiel's laughter turned hysterical. Mikhael nodded to the others, then slapped Castiel hard, snapping her out of her frenzy.

"Why did you do that?" Castiel gasped, her head spinning from the blow.

Mikhael's expression was stern. "Listen, Azrael, I won't beat around the bush. Why did you give him your blood, knowing what he might do with it?"

Castiel's eyes flashed with defiance. "For Emily. She's in Hell."

Ariel contradicted her, "No, she isn't!"

Castiel's eyes widened in surprise. "What? She is... what?"

Mikhael's voice was firm. "Explain yourself, Azrael. What makes you think Emily is in Hell?"

Castiel's face twisted in anguish. "Lucifer told me... he said he'd let me see her again if I gave him my blood."

The other angels exchanged skeptical glances. They knew Lucifer's tricks all too well.

"No, she isn't!" Ariel repeated.

Castiel's was shocked. "Where? Where's she?"

Ariel's expression was calm. "Caz, she's in Paradise. I know this because I saw her there when I was there last."

Castiel's face fell, her eyes flashing with anger and embarrassment. "Damn." It was obvious she had been played by the devil. She should have expected that, but in her desperation, she had fallen victim to Lucifer's manipulation.

Mikhael's voice was soft and concerned. "Any idea what he wants with your blood, Azrael?"

Castiel's grin was mischievous. "Yeah, he wants my blood to control my Death soldiers"

Mikhael's eyes narrowed. "And you gave it to him?"

Castiel's grin widened. "I knew that, but he can't control my soldiers because the power lies not in my blood, but in my mind. The only way he could get them to Hell was with my blood, and that's why I gave it to him."

Mikhael's eyes narrowed, a hint of a smile on her face. "You sneaky thing, Azrael. You played him."

Castiel's grin turned triumphant. "Yes, I did. I just played his game, that's all."

Uriel's expression turned from shock to admiration. "Well played, Castiel. Well played."

Rafael's curiosity got the better of him. "What's next?"

Castiel's grin widened, her eyes glinting with mischief. "I've got a plan."

—_—

The five angels stood gathered on the rooftop of a sleek hotel in downtown Dawn City, the city's neon lights twinkling like stars below them. They had just finished laying out their plan to take down Lucifer, and the air was electric with anticipation.