Chapter 23
Why were girls so stupid? Castiel shoved his clothes into his bag, wincing as the fabric rubbed up against his wound. He clutched his stomach, flinching. He closed his eyes for a moment, steadying himself against the bedpost and willing the dizziness to go away. He finally pushed himself up and walked to his closet, grabbing his sword. The girls could defend themselves he knew. Avelyn was adept with a bow and arrow and Demi was usually better at keeping them out of trouble. Careful and cautious. What had possessed them to go after Jaxon?! Castiel closed his eyes, sinking onto the bed.
Castiel swung his sword up, meeting Raiden’s inches away from Jaxon’s neck. It was so skillfully maneuvered that Raiden was shocked. He stepped back unsteadily but recovered quickly. Swinging his sword up, he brought it straight down towards Cas’s stomach. Cas’s mind went blank but his body seemed to move on instinct and he rolled to his left. Raiden’s sword smashed into the dirt floor and made a piercing cracking noise. Cas grunted, leaping up as Raiden tried to gather himself. The sword had split in two. Castiel jerked Jaxon to his feet, trying to get him to move.
“Stay with me, Jax,” Castiel commanded, “We have to get out of here.”
He could hear Drax’s roar behind him as he and Jaxon stumbled along.His heart pounded in his chest and his body felt numb. He’d never been so afraid. Suddenly, Jaxon fell.
“Jax, get up! Come on!”
“Cas...Go. One of us...needs to survive.”
“I can’t do that, Jaxon. We are both going to make it out of this.”
Jaxon shook his head, breathing heavily.
“Out of all the times you decide to rein in your stubbornness...Get up!”
He could hear Drax getting closer, the flapping of his wings getting louder.
“The girls...keep the girls away. Promise me. Protect them....and Demina...I’ll buy you time but you need to give me your sword.”
“Jaxon...” Castiel pleaded. But he knew the truth. They both knew. Castiel handed it over. Jaxon clutched it, his face pale and drained. He used the last of his energy to shove Castiel away.
“GO. And if you fail....I swear I will come back and murder you myself.”
Castiel turned and ran, stumbling through the trees and brush. He didn’t look back.
He didn’t want to die. Castiel opened his eyes as Cassiopeia burst into the room. She took one look at him, her eyes straying to the sword strapped at his side, to the packed bag on his bed, and scowled.
“What are you doing?”
Castiel rolled his eyes, standing. He blinked. Too fast. The world spun and forced him to sit back down.
“I’m leaving.”
“And where do you think you’re leaving to?” she asked.
“I’m going to find Demina and Avelyn.”
“Not in the shape you’re in.”
Castiel stared at her, eyes challenging.
“Are you going to stop me?”
Cassi smiled.
“Nope. I’m going to help you,” she answered.
“W-what?”
“Lie down.”
It took a moment for Castiel to understand what she was saying but he obeyed quickly when he did. He shut his eyes as Cassi strode towards him.
“Give me a moment,” she asked, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath. She placed her hands on Cas’s wounds.
