Prince of Darkness (Supernatural/The Originals crossover)

The Cage

*Castiel's POV*

I open my eyes, getting back on my feet. I look around trying to figure out where I am until I spot Michael crawled up in the corner. The archangel had his knees facing upwards and had his face buried between his knees, humming to the theme song for Sesame Street.

No this can't possibly be what I suspect it to be. I was trapped in a cube, every rook, walls, and floor were made out of the same godlike material that was used to hold back a certain fallen archangel and keep him in its cage.

The sound of endless thunder and lightning flashed and rumbled out of the cage. It was as if we were trapped in Jupiter, only worse. I know exactly where I am. I am in a place I don't belong.

I am in literal hell. The worst part of hell. But why would Lucifer send me here instead of easily finishing me off? This doesn't make any sense. Maybe he has something in his mind. Something that isn't good.

I turn to face Michael, slowly approaching him, as if I were delicately motioning over a deer, trying not to scare it away.

"Michael?" I softly spoke.

Michael did not reply. Instead, he remained in his corner, weeping and violently shaking out of fear.

What has Lucifer done to him? He doesn't seem himself. He seems broken. I can't imagine how his mental health worsened after Lucifer got out of his cage again. All the time in pure isolation, in the cage, on the worst part of hell, where endless thunder and lightning emerge every single moment.

He must have had it worse than any other lost soul or demon in hell. This is worse than endless torture. Worse than the endless pain and agony. Worse than any other physical torture in existence.

"Michael?' I repeat his name once again.

I crouch down and gently place a hand on his shoulder. I feel him violently tremble at my touch. He slightly flinches and pulls back from my touch. It was as if he was scared to even be touched by me.

Could Michael be so traumatized that he has no idea if I'm really Lucifer, playing with his mind? Does he think that I am Lucifer rather than being myself? Does he not believe that I am actually Castiel?

I start to remember how Sam was after he had recovered his soul. He and Lauren had spent some time in hell. I was only able to recover his body, but not his soul. Then after Death had recovered his soul, he didn't seem like himself.

Sam had started hallucinating Lucifer. Each moment had gotten worse for him. Worse enough that he had to check himself in at a mental institution. He tried his best to convince himself it was all in his head, but in the end, he felt like he was a mad man.

Lauren had also spent some time in the cage, but she did not suffer as much as her brother, Sam had or as Michael. In fact, the last I've heard, she had spent half her time bravely facing Lucifer and defending Michael.

The other half of her time, I imagine she was getting a little too attached to Lucifer. I don't know what they see each other, but I imagine Lauren really did love him. As did Lucifer love her as well.

"Michael. It's me, Castiel." I softly speak to him.

"No. No. No. Stay back!" Michael says with his voice trembling.

"I'm not Lucifer." I try to explain to Michael.

I try to touch his shoulder with my palms, but he crawls away to the opposite corner from where he was before. Then he lays down, facing the wall and crawls into a small ball. He didn't seem to have an interest in communication with me.