Hayden & Dean (The Sequel) - A Tethered Love

Chapter 35: The Fire Around the Cage

Dean doesn't answer, and Rowena is demanding we move now or miss our opportunity. As we walk down a corridor somewhere between earth and hell, something I've never even could have fathomed I would do. I ask the obvious question "if we're able to summon Lucifer to the cage, why didn't we do this sooner?"

It's absurd to me that Crowley, the devil's most wanted man, wouldn't have tried sooner to get this done. He should want Lucifer locked away in his cage. Sam then backs my question "that's a good question." He looks to the Scottish man "Crowley?"

Crowley gives him an annoyed glare but responds "this is possible by means of a spell. It's not like mother dearest and I talk shop and braid one another's hair. She's been trying to kill me!" He then snarls back looking over his shoulder at me "besides, the cage won't be in hell. It's temporary and he'll be able to escape easily once the warding wear off."

Rowena chuckles, then looks at her son "flop sweat, Sonny? Dread of what's to come?"

Crowley growls "can it. Your barbs may amuse your circle of hags, but you have no idea what you're tampering with, what Lucifer is capable of."

I look to Sam with a worried glare. He tries to give me a reassuring one, but I can tell he's just as worried, if not more, than I am. Rowena goes on as we walk down the tunnel that's lit by fired torches "well, dear, if you can't stand the heat, get out of hell." Just then some thunder cackles, and she adds "I must say, it's not as scenic as I'd expected."

He elaborates on the decor "we're in the furthest reaches of hell -- limbo -- where I send unruly souls for time-outs."

Limbo. We're not on earth, we're not in hell, we're in Limbo. My heart races and I wipe at my own sweat droplet falling down my face. Sam asks "this is where I meet with Lucifer?"

"What it lacks in ambience, it makes up for in security." He says, then another thunder crack as we reach where we are going. My stomach twists and body shakes as I see a large dark cage in front of me. Nothing else surrounding it. Just lightning, thunder and rocks all around. Rowena smiles and begins slowly walking towards it. The three of us just watch as she starts to paint on different symbols. It takes about an hour, and around the time she's almost done Crowley finally breaks the silence "makes your flesh crawl, doesn't it, moose?" He looks to me "Mrs. Squirrel" I just stare at him no emotion and he goes on "I get it. I'm the king of this place. Still not my cup of tea."

I chuckle and reply "I don't know, Crowley. I'd say it suits you. Dark. Empty."

He stares at me, then replies "fascinating, the utter contempt, when I'm in the midst of saving the Winchesters' bacon. Again."

Sam speaks up before I can "the point of this is to save everyone's bacon, including yours." He then looks to the witch in front of us "let's just hope she knows what she's doing. The cell won't hold crap if the warding's not right."

Rowena heard him, and calls back "don't you worry about me, Samuel. I'm a professional."

"You're certain you can do this so that Lucifer won't be able to use his powers?" I ask, my nerves really getting the better of me now that we are closing to doing this.

She stand up and walks back towards us "we're about to find out, aren't we?"She closes her eyes, raises her arms and starts the spell "Foro dega la moray." The wind picks up around us and we all turn to stare at the cage "mah ho tah!" The symbols all glow red as they begin to be put into effect and then at the end of her spell, a ring of fire encases the cage. "Now, let's have a go at that cage." She says from behind us. She says a spell "Foh reh say-lah!" and as soon as she's done, the thunder and lightning pick up.

Crowley says what we all already know "it begins."

I see Sam exhale, in a way I've seen Dean do it before. He's nervous. Although I am scared myself, I put my hand on his arm and give it a squeeze of encouragement "it's okay, you'll be fine." I try and whisper over the wind that's picking up around us.