Star Fall / Book One (SPN Fan Fiction)

Chapter Eighteen

The boys return to the bunker. Beaten, and empty handed. Dean tosses the duffle on the table of the library and opens himself a drink while Sam leans back in his chair. Sighing in dismay, just as Castiel enters.

"Crowley is in the dungeon." Sam nods in approval as Dean swallows down his beer.

"Thanks, Cas." Sam stood weakly, walking down the steps into the foyer. The angel assists, tapping his fingers to his head to heal his wounds. Sam releases an alleviated breath, gratefully patting him on the shoulder, continuing toward the hall. Cas cautiously crosses to Dean, who shifts uncomfortably.

"Dean-"

"I don't wanna hear it." He mutters, the angel looks to the floor. "We were going, to get her." He repeats, a broken record.

"Not if it meant the cost of your life." Dean gives a slow turn, displaying the splintering ache layered in his handsome complexion.

"Why.." He exhales poignantly. For a moment, Cas wasn't able to answer. His oceanic eyes screaming the truth he couldn't bring himself to say.

"You know why.." He admits, looking away. "I will always chose you.." Dean turns his back to him. Walking further into the study.

"You told us to protect her. You BROUGHT us to her, and gave us this mission. Protect Kyiah. No matter what." He chills. "That's what I was trying to do." He emphasizes. "Keep her safe." There was an intensive moment. "You couldn't have made that any more clear." He rotates to read the sorrow on the face of his ethereal partner. "She's in the hands of some of the world's worst evil. That's not very safe, Cas." He took a breath, shutting his eyes. "I just- we have to get her back." Castiel processes the particular depth of urgency behind Dean's wavering voice. Tilting his neck in acceptance that there was no stopping this venture. It was already too far in the making. Kyiah's gifted grip around him was too strong, too deep. Adding yet another wrench to his personal arrangement for The Princess. "I have to bring her home."

"And this, is her home?" Cas inquires, as if there were any other answer.

"This is her home." Dean cogency states. Hitting an emotional chord, pausing to recollect himself. "We gotta get her back." The angel enters the library, repeating his act of heavenly healing to remove Dean of his injuries.

"We will, Dean." Cas breathily assures. "We'll get her home." His khaki trench coat swishes as he turns, walking back out into the foyer.

"Yeah? And how the hell are we gonna do that?" Dean discourages.

"I will find a way." He says without disruption.

"We don't know where Ocula's hiding her."

"I will find her." Cas instates. Dean was despondently unconvinced, his weight falling in defeat.

"What makes you think you can?" He pleas in search of faith. The angel stops in the center of the room, giving a concerned expression to Dean.

"Love." Castiel decrees, fluttering off. Leaving Dean in a dizzying state.

- - -

Droplets of sweat slip from Kyiah's chin. Her wrists and ankles bound to a sturdy wood chair, locked away in a dark, damp, chamber. Ocula's buff razor nails run up her outter arm, forcing the release of a gruff shout. Battling against each sound that fought its way to freedom. Any mere mortal would have lost consciousness hours ago, but Kyiah's cryptic gifts contribute to her vast endurance. Ocula yanks his finger, slicing open her shoulder. Leaving a vertical scratch up the side of her face near her eye in its wake. He turns his back, waiting for her to catch her breath before lazily tossing two fingers her direction. Sending a controlled smack of energy into her throat, making her gasp and cough. Choking.