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The only thing more embarrassing than asking his son and God, Jack, to help him to save a despicable demon from the Empty was asking that same son permission to fulfill a marriage vow with a djinn queen. Castiel, Archangel of Jack, fought to contain his nervous gnawing to the inside of his grace-formed mouth as the young God’s brow furrowed and he asked, “You married a djinn? When did you marry a djinn, Cas?”
“It was while you were stuck in Apocalypse world. I can show you.” Cas locked eyes with Jack and let the events run through his mind. When he was done remembering, he watched the God’s face break into one of his million-watt smiles. Jack’s laughter rang through Heaven, and Castiel basked in his son’s pleasure, all eight wings flaring wide and angling for Jack’s light and his voice joining in a deep chuckle. Angels zoomed into the office space Jack had made for him, flaring and seeking to join in with their own voices. Still chortling, Jack sent them away.
Eventually they settled, and Jack wondered, “How do you plan to give them their strength back? Shouldn’t we place angels around the Garden again? I don’t think it would be a good idea to…um, consummate.” The boy blushed before hurriedly stating, “You can’t do that. We said no more angels on Earth. That would count.”
Cas immediately nodded in agreement. “I know. I was hoping maybe we could figure it out together? I do want to uphold my vow.”
Jack crossed his arms letting the thumb of one of his hands run along his lips in a pose so familiar Castiel felt his heart twinge. After a moment, the God looked back up at him and said, “I can’t bring her male djinn back. Purgatory is not my place. And I don’t want you anywhere near it ever again! I can’t create more djinn either. Amara doesn’t know how to. You’ll have to honor it with what miracles are available to you, Castiel.”
The archangel was reassured by Jack’s care, but he breathed a deep sigh as the responsibility landed once again on his shoulders alone. As if seeing the metaphorical burden fall, Jack gently laid a hand on either of Castiel’s grace-formed shoulders. “Don’t worry, father. You are one of Heaven’s greatest tacticians. I have faith that you can figure this out.”
Cas smiled down at his son, and his wings reached forward to brush against the God’s, acknowledging the confidence that pulsed through them. I have wings again. Joy pulsed through him as the obvious answer became clear. “I know what I need to do, but I will have to go to Earth for a short while.”
Jack’s face lit up again as he asked, “Do you need to take a vessel? I could remake you.”
Castiel shuddered as an old pain rang through his grace. It was something they had not spoken on fully. Jack had assumed that Castiel did not want to return to Earth; and, after a little thought, the angel had found himself agreeing.
Concern showed on Jack’s face as he quickly amended, “It would only be a temporary vessel. A memory really.”
“I can’t…” it came out as a strained whisper, but Cas pushed the pain away and continued in a stronger voice, “It wouldn’t be right, Jack. I don’t want to hurt Dean like that, and I would have to see him. We’re not ready.” He squared his shoulders and decided, “I’ll figure it out there.”
Jack pulled him close, and Cas let his grace-formed arms come up to surround him in return. Jack spoke quietly in his ear, “Okay, Cas. Come back quickly. We should start working on the new Heaven soon. I made a promise too.”
Cas felt a final pulse of smothering love, and then he was on Earth, twisting in the winds that pushed him into a decaying factory. He quickly stabilized and stole through the building invisibly. The djinn couldn’t have been more than five years old. Its mother had managed to crawl about halfway across the room before it had died from the massive cut across her abdomen. The djinn boy was very near death itself. As the angel contemplated his conundrum, he felt the unmistakable thrum of a human body enter the building.
“Oh, God. Watch over me as I follow in your path. Surround me with your angels and keep me safe so I may perform your works…”
Castiel was surprised to find the internal voice of the prayer familiar. His grace twisted in surprise when it was a familiar body that came into view. He had never seen Daphne in his true form, but he’d had enough grace to receive hints of her thoughts and prayers and they matched. Alarm thrummed through her nervous system when she saw the dead woman, but it was soon washed away with worry as she caught sight of the child.
“Oh God.”
Castiel carefully modulated his voice to allow only the slightest hint of it to sound, “Daphne?”
He watched her entire nervous system jump at the noise, and then she asked, “Who’s that?”
Joy pulsed through him as he answered, “I was once yours. I was Emmanuel.”
He saw her body bloom open into a ready vessel as she whispered, “God has given us another purpose together. A work we must accomplish, right?”
Castiel spoke slowly and clearly, “If you are willing, I would ask you to be mine for a time. I am an angel, so it will not be pleasant for you, but you could help me do a great good.”
He prayed, “This was nearly as much of cruelty, Jack. But I think I understand.”
Jack’s voice rumbled low through him. “You made her promises too, Cas.”
“Yes. Of course.”
Daphne’s answer made his grace ripple and reach for the vessel, but Castiel had sworn to himself that he would never take another vessel without full disclosure. He held back, explaining, “Daphne, I will hurt you. You will be locked in your mind while I use your body, and I cannot promise that you will be okay when I leave. I would use your body to fulfill a vow I made to a monster, and I cannot guarantee your safety.”
He could hear the anxiety in her tone when she responded, “Are you going to save the baby?” but there was also determination in it too.
“I would. And hopefully, a few more besides.”
When she spoke next, her tone held nothing but awe, “You married me. I married an angel. You cared for me then. I can’t believe you wouldn’t care for me in this. God sent me here. Just like He sent me to that river. I know it’ll be okay. I want you to use me.”
Terror thrilled through Castiel, but he could not deny her wishes. He let his grace reach for her nerves, and he was once again condensed within a human body. In an earnest attempt to save her as much pain as he could he immediately built walls around her mind, giving it a space to hide from the charge of his grace, and assessed her body. To his surprise, he discovered she was one of Gabriel’s vessels and was able to hold him well.
Castiel? What a beautiful name. Her mental tone blared within his grace.
Daphne? Are you okay? Am I hurting you?
I’m okay. I can feel the heat of you, but it’s like it’s contained in a fireplace. It’s a privilege to hold you.
Emotions and memories long repressed swooped through him, but he got a hold of them before they could overwhelm her. Just stay in the space I’ve created for you. I’ll hold you too.
She didn’t say anything back, and he felt her relax within him. Content he’d done what he could, Castiel focused on his duty. He picked up the baby, nudging it into unconsciousness as he healed it. Then he reached through space and pulled himself to the garden of the Tree of Life. He didn’t have to walk far before he was confronted by a female djinn.
“How are you here?” she demanded in Old Arabic.
Cas quickly raised his vessel’s free hand in a gesture of peace and replied in the same language, “I am Castiel. I am promised to your queen, and I have returned to fulfill that promise.”
The djinn bowed to him and turned, crooking her finger in the universal sign to follow. Nisaab was sitting among the roots of the Tree of Life, but she quickly stood when she caught sight of him, calling, “Sister, who is this woman that you bring me. You know humans are not to be brought in.”
His guide answered, “It is the promised one, Castiel.”
“Prove it.” Nisaab demanded.
Castiel made sure to use the exact same wording she’d used years ago. “I killed your men. But I swore to restore your clan’s strength. I give you a seed now and will return with more.”
He was hideously conscious of how alluring she made her movements as she approached him, but he was able to control his vessel’s reactions easily. She didn’t stop until she was practically pressing into the child in his arms. She searched his vessel’s face, and he kept it open and honest.
“It is you, my promised one, but I am saddened by your change,” she purred.
Remembering the formal customs of the language, Castiel responded, “Time changes many things, but the river flows on. We do what we can and atone for our failures.”
Nisaab smiled up at him with sparkling eyes before turning them downward and gently pulling the boy from his vessel’s arms. “Is it a child of your vessel?”
“A child of need. As they all will be.”
She looked back at him and laughed, light and tinkling, “All will be? Do you plan to return to me all the men you took?”
Cas contained a wince. “As many as I can, but I doubt all.”
He watched as Nisaab settled back into the roots, brushed the baby djinn’s hair back, and said, “bring what strength you can, promised one.”
Castiel didn’t ask Jack for any more help. He thought the God had done too much already. Fortunately, his tenure with hunters made it easy for him to search out the right signs, and his wings made going to the right places fast. Daphne stayed where he had placed her but occasionally asked questions. He made sure to give her as much information as was advisable, holding off on the big conversation they needed to have until Nisaab was satisfied.
Two days later, he entered the garden with a seventh orphaned djinn child. The young teenaged boy had been living on the banks of the Nile feeding off lost tourists and animals. He had given Castiel no name when he’d asked and fought him with teeth and claws every step of the way to the queen like a wild thing. He stopped when he heard Nisaab call out, “this one has the strength of many! You spoil me, promised one.”
“He will not tell me a name. Perhaps you can bring it from him as sweetly as you extracted my vow.”
Her laughter bubbled out again as she walked toward them. “Castiel, you seek to seduce me. You must be running short of strength.”
Still healing his vessel, Castiel muttered, “He has taken much from me.”
Nisaab laid a hand on his vessel’s arm and dragged the boy’s arm from his grip. Immediately, the djinn pressed into her nuzzling and making mewling noises. She took the time to wrap an arm around him and then turned to gaze at Castiel. “As he has taken from you, I will take. It is enough, promised one. You have made the garden an orphanage. As it was once, it is again.”
She sighed softly pushing the boy into the arms of one of her women. Then her hand rose to rest on his vessel’s cheek. “It is a shame that change will come. I would have liked to have sipped of you.”
Keeping his movement firm but slow, Castiel lifted her hand from Daphne’s face and said, “I am sorry.”
Her responding smile was wistful but accepting. “Change will come. I release you, dear one.”
Cas took a deep breath and reached for North America. He landed outside the abandoned factory Jack had first sent him to. The mother’s body was still in there, so he methodically went about burning the body and laying her to rest. As he worked, he asked, Daphne? Why were you in Ohio?
I was working at a homeless outreach center. Martha hadn’t been by in a few days, so I was trying to track her down. I knew she had a baby. I wanted to make sure they were okay. One of her friends mentioned this place.
You could have been killed.
People need to help each other, Castiel. How will the world ever be a better place if they don’t? We need to lead by example, remember? Show others God’s kindness?
I remember every lesson you taught me, Daphne. I can never repay you for what you gave me during my time as Emmanuel, but I will gladly tell you how much I appreciate it. I wasn’t very good at being considerate before I met you. You are still one of the kindest souls I had the good fortune of meeting.
He felt her pleasure at his words. It was a joy she seemed to attribute to God, and so it was lined with humility rather than pride. Castiel did not give her time to respond, continuing, Leaving you like that…it must have been painful for you, and I am sorry I abandoned you…no matter how valid the reason. I broke my vows to you.
He felt her mind press hard in protest, so he paused and listened as she thought back, No, Castiel. God sent me to you. When you didn’t come back, I understood that our time together was over. You aren’t Emmanuel. The man I married died when you came back to yourself. I suppose you could say Emmanuel died that night. Isn’t that right?
Yes, I suppose you could say that, though I carry his memories within me.
Please, lay down this burden. It’s not yours to carry, Castiel. God gave me a gift these last two days, but you said angels are not meant to walk the Earth anymore. So you will go back to Heaven to do His will, and I will go back to the outreach center where I can serve Him best.
Cas let her sentiment burrow deep into his grace and did his best to push his own admiration and love into her mind. He felt tears track down his vessel’s face and wasn’t sure if they were his or Daphne’s. He choked out, you have no idea how much He would agree with your point of view. Jack Himself worked as an outreach center for a few days. He saved a young girl and her father there.
You love Him very much don’t you?
More than I can say.
Then that’s as it should be. You are God’s angel. Serve Him, and we will always be joined in that service.
Castiel took a moment to calm the flurry of emotion and hormones running through Daphne’s body and then said, “Thank you, Daphne. I will see you again. In the light of Heaven, call for me, and I will come.”
He felt her soul pulse warm gold with love and blue with sorrow, but she only replied, Farewell, Castiel, Angel of the Lord. Thank Him for me.
Castiel pulled himself from her with eminent care, drawing away from her nerves entirely before removing the walls around her mind. He caught a last ripple of hurt, and then he was formless and invisible again. He watched her laugh through tears, a sound so incredulous and pained that he had to fight his instinct to comfort her. He stayed with her by the factory until she calmed and followed her until she was safely driving away. Then he reached for his home.
He found Jack waiting for him with open arms, and he allowed himself to take comfort in them as his son babbled away happily.
“I started making the space for our new Heaven. It’s gonna be big and open. I was thinking maybe we should put similar people in different parts of it, so there’s less potential for differences of opinions. And maybe, since the angels aren’t going to be watching the Earth anymore, we can have them watch over the souls here. It’ll be like the first Garden. The angels can make friends or maybe just be someone to listen. I know I needed that a lot when I was human. Bobby was talking about how we could make home sections in the different heavens so everyone’s wishes don’t get all mixed up. You’re gonna be in charge, right Cas?”
The archangel pulled back in surprise at the last question. “Um, Jack, I don’t know if that’s a good idea. What about you?”
He watched the God’s face fall a little as he said, “I’m not staying, Cas. It wouldn’t be right. There’s so much to see, and we don’t want to play favorites like…like He did. We want to see the multiverse. We agreed that would be best. It’s important we stay in balance.”
“Amara said I should be in charge?” he asked dubiously.
“Yes, we both think you would be the best able to handle the complexities of each side of Heaven. Most of the angels have forgiven you, and you’ve spent more time with humans than any other celestial being alive. Amara said you know more about them than she does, and you definitely know more than me.”
Proud, but torn Castiel found himself hedging, “But what if I get it wrong again? I’ve made so many mistakes in the past. Every time I’m in charge, I disappoint someone.”
Jack stopped him with a hand squeezing his grace-formed shoulder. “Castiel, think about what you just did. You went to Earth in a way that protected you and Dean. You worked in harmony with a human to save orphaned monster children in a way that no one got hurt. Well, not hurt that bad. And you made sure a holy site that needed to be protected was renewed in a way that pleased Us and its guardians. You honored your word in a diplomatic way that left everyone in a better situation. Heaven will be easy compared to that. Everyone will be there to enjoy their time.”
Every protest Cas had been going to make, died in his grace-formed throat. He could not deny that Jack had only spoken the truth. As if knowing what was going through his mind, Jack gave him one more squeeze and said, “It’s what would make him happiest, and you too, I think.”
Cas opened his grace-formed mouth and spoke the truth. “Yes. Of course you’re right. That would make me happiest. This is the one place we can belong together.”
Jack grinned up at him triumphantly, and Castiel made good on one more promise. “Thank you, Jack.”