SWNOVELS Chapter 23: Desire
Castiel’s POV
It had been an hour. He should have only given her an hour, not two. Away from him each night in the safety of the Tribe was one torment, but knowing she walked openly on the streets? Stars above, it was driving him mad.
He stomped to the jukebox. Flipping the music catalogue he put on ‘Pins and Needles’ by Billy Talent. He stared at the wall above the music box for the song’s opening.
‘Never understood how she could,
Mean so little to so many.
Why does she mean everything to me?’
And she did, he thought. This was cursed territory.
He head bobbed along in the empty dance space. At the song crescendo of ‘Accept this confession..’ the door opened and closed to a towering Taala. He stared at Castiel a heartbeat too long before striding his way. Castiel dryly teased “Twice in one day Taala? Hellfire and brimstone must leave a scratchy throat.” When the demon just stared, he added. “Angel is not here.”
The mountain shook his horns. “I know. I’m here for YOU.”
“You.. what?”
“Your soul dear Castiel.” When Castiel just blinked at him, he explained. “You do not hide desire well my friend. Your soul is on a one-way path and if I claim it now, I may save you the purple eyes and spiked tail.”
Holy Hell. “You think I’m earmarked for Miss Desirae?”
“You are if you don’t restore your faith.” He stated. Damn it to Hell. No, damn HIM to Hell!
Castiel brushed a hand through his hair. “Well.. What of love though Taala? We both know of angels that took wives in humans.”
“Before they fell from Grace Castiel. They placed love of the flesh over the divine, and tried to alter God’s plan when it impacted their happy home.”
Castiel slowly nodded. In his heart he knew that if God commanded him to obliterate the City of Lost Angels he would, but only after scurrying Angel to safety. Even still, Castiel wondered if the days he had before that with Angel at his side would be worth it. “I can’t give her up.” He said in a whisper.
“You must my friend. She does not want love at her core.”
Castiel flew eyes to him. “You-“
“I shook her hand, yes.” Taala interrupted and continued. “If her greatest desire had been love, and specifically love with you, then I might have worked a deal to save you both. But it is not, and her want is not something achievable before you succumb.”
“What? Why?” Castiel had only ever heard of some greed desires being impossible to fulfill. What in Heaven’s name did she want?
“She needs to belong. She wants family, her own kind.” He narrowed red eyes at Castiel to drive home the next point. “I believe that she is rare. Combined blood. Kitsune perhaps, though I had believed I ended them all. She will have no others like her, Castiel.”
Castiel tried to grasp at any straw he could in his mind. Every one came up short. Even if they found the family that bore her, if she was indeed a hybrid then they would be of different species too. “We could change her! Into a human or a full neko.” A glimmer of hope!
“It would change her nature dear Castiel. She would not be who you love anymore. Her intuition and ability to bridge the city divide comes in part from her blood.”
The pair stared in a silent standoff until Castiel swiped frustrated hands through his hair and gave an exasperated “Argh!” He flicked eyes to the bar patrons, with only some nosy nekos watching the interaction. They were far enough away for even their sensitive hearing, he was sure. “What do you suggest?” He finally asked Taala, his tone defeated.
“For now? A repulsion charm. Perhaps to a necklace or blade. Strong enough to quiet the craving but maintain the friendship. To save hearts, I would have it work both ways in proximity so one does not suffer alone.”
For now. Castiel kept repeating those words. Just for now. He nodded once and stared out the window. “Tomorrow. I will ask the favour of you tomorrow then Taala.”
Taala nodded once. “I like shiny things.” He said starting for the door, obviously trying to lighten the mood. Castiel snorted a stifled laugh and waved the demon off. A tiny chip in his heart filled for his once good friend who was trying to save him. He looked to the quiet jukebox in thought.
He had one last night with Angel.
After 1 hour 45 minutes, Angel was outside the bar window with Alastair. They were talking with some exiting nekos who looked absolutely terrified of the too-close demon. They shook their heads to whatever was asked and ran off quickly. Angel entered carrying a red cooler bag with a plus sign on it. A medical bag? Glass things inside tinkled when she slid it to the bartop. He moved his eyes from the bag to her leaning heavily on the bartop, both knees on one of the stools. He almost had a clear view down the valley of breasts through the gapped sweater. “Syndicate is on board.” she stated, almost tiredly.
Castiel nodded absently, then registered her words and tore eyes up to hers. “For what? Your save the world scheme?” She nodded. “Angel love, you have to let me in on the plans. Preferably before you go and do crazy things without me.”
“I am. Well I am now. I need your help.”
“Anything love.”
She purred and it damn near broke his heart. “Ok, so, don’t get mad. I’ve ordered weapons of wolfsbane dust.” She said it so cooly, like she was ordering dinner again. She wiggled a little, and when his eyes dropped to her top again he was aware that maybe this was part of a tactic to keep him from completely exploding. “They will stop a lycan from transforming. I have one paid for, but I need your help to get others. I need angel blood.”
Nope, explosion imminent. “Sweet baby Jesus, what the HELL for? Not to give those human collectors!?” Angel bit her bottom lip and slid back the bartop to sit on the stool. “Holy Hell you’re serious? Angel, divine blood has the capacity to heal humans and destroy vampires. It can’t ever be used or tested.” He ran hands through his hair and turned from her to face the display wall.
A small voice from behind had an idea. “S-So, can we collect human blood? Find people that look relatively like who we say it’s from. If angel blood has never been tested by humans before, they would have no frame of reference to compare to right?” Fucking. Brilliant. Girl.
He spun to face her again. “Yes! Clever girl! We could even put something else in it too, like, a splash of bird blood. Right, ok. Now, tell me everything that happened AND what your next move will be.”
Angel brightened and looked eager to talk.