City of Angels (and Demons)

Chapter Twenty

Dean didn't think finding Castiel would be too hard. They were here for the hospital, so there was only a few places to look. He just didn't expect Cas to be with Felix, who was supposed to have been on a flight back to Brighton this morning. And the worst part was, Felix wasn't Felix again.

They had come to Bates' operating room to see Cas and Felix looking around. Dean texted Sam then went to confront Cas, who merely turned and looked at him as he walked up.

Dean looked over at Felix then back at Cas. "What the hell, man?" he asked, not bothering with trying to be calm about it. "He was getting out. You hear me, Cas? Out!"

"He can track Darkiplier," Castiel said as if that was enough of an excuse.

"So can we."

"I mean, he can take us to him," Castiel said. "Dark is not of this world. He's not even a demon in the same sense that you know."

Dean looked over at Crowley, who just shrugged with a I'm-Telling-You-Nothing-More look. "All right then," Dean said, looking back at Castiel. "Explain."

"He can open a rift between worlds," Castiel said. "He controls everything there. Some have called it the 'Upside Down.' "

Dean thought back to the house, when he had walked into a room of nothing but blackness. That must have been what Cas was talking about now. "And Felix can get us there?" he asked. "The angel, not Felix Felix."

Castiel nodded. "If Dark opens another rift into it, we can get to him," he said. "I'll take Felix home right after."

"You better," Dean said. "He's your responsibility now." Castiel looked ready and willing to take on that burden, which helped Dean forgive him for running off. Dean gave a nod and he could tell Cas knew he was forgiven.

Dean turned when Sam walked in. Sam looked surprised to see Felix, but said nothing about it. He probably figured he would get an explanation from Dean later.

Sam walked over to stand beside Dean. "I stopped by Bates' office," he said. "She was keeping Dark's body in here."

"It's safe to assume Dark has his body now," Dean said. "Cas says Felix the angel here can get us to Dark once he travels to his own little bubble world."

Sam appeared to accept that explanation. "I've heard stranger things," he said. "So how does he know when Dark -"

"See for yourself," Crowley said.

They all turned and looked at Felix, who was standing with his arms stretched out from his sides, his eyes glowing white. Dean reached for his gun. "I guess we don't get time to prepare," he said, moving closer to Felix.

And in a blinding white light, they were gone.

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Amy covered her eyes as everything went white, but it only lasted a moment. As she was lowering her hand, she could hear Dark's scream of frustration and anger. She turned to see Dean, Sam, Felix, Castiel and Crowley standing there.

Her first thought was they had tricked her into believing where they were going. That they had somehow known Dark had contacted her. But that wouldn't explain why Felix was here. He was supposed to have been on his way home.

Sam and Dean moved forward as one, putting themselves between Amy and Dark. If they had noticed the other, empty Mark they didn't say anything. But, Dark was the immediate threat here. He deserved all of the attention if everyone was going to make it out of this alive.

Remembering the choice she had been about to make, Amy attempted to push her way through Sam and Dean. "I can't lose him!" she cried, wondering if their presence had now messed up any chance she had of getting Mark back.

"We're not losing you either," Dean said, holding her back. He looked her in the eye. "Think, Amy! If you give him what he wants, he'll have control over you."

"He was giving me the choice to take back what he wanted," Amy said, seeing the sudden confusion in Dean's eyes. "I'm the only one that can save him."

"Dean!" Sam yelled. Dean turned his head and Sam directed his gaze past Dark to where the empty Mark stood.

"What the hell..."

"Dark's body," Sam said.

"Not anymore," Dark said, stepping back to stand beside the other body. "And thanks to you -"

"Do it!" Amy said, breaking free from Dean and moving forward. This would probably turned out to be the worst thing she could do for Mark. There was no telling what hold Dark had over that body as well. But at least she would have Mark back. "Leave Mark and go."

Both Sam and Dean started to say something, but Amy ignored them. Dark smiled then placed his hand on the chest of the body. Amy allowed herself to be pulled back by Sam. Dean was holding up his gun, but hesitated about shooting, thankfully.

There was no outward sign that anything was happening. The only sign after a moment was the body blinked then collapsed.

Was it finally over?

Everyone was too busy watching Mark and Dark that they didn't notice Castiel walking past and toward Dark. Dark looked drained, but recovering quickly. Castiel was pulling out an angel blade, lifting it as he got closer to Dark.

"Cas!" Sam cried, the first to notice.

That got Dark's attention. He turned as Castiel approached, a look of surprise coming to his face as Castiel stabbed him with the angel blade. Everyone was knocked backwards to the floor by some supernatural force. Amy covered her ears against Dark's inhuman scream.

Then there was nothing but silence.

When Amy looked up, they were back in the abandoned gas station.

There was no sign of Dark.