Chapter 48: My Soul to Take

Chamuel's eyes shot open, he could still smell the forest around him as he returned to the waking world. Sitting up in bed, he looked around with a new found understanding of himself. Jedidiah was gone, Chamuel was all that was left. A flood of excitement rolled into him as the angel lifted the small vile up, inspecting it in the broken light of the late afternoon sun.

"Did I sleep all day," he whispered, turning to look down at Abel who was still asleep.

A blast of warmth filled the angel's chest as he looked down at the other. The feeling caused his heart to beat quickly against his rib cage, he smiled wide. They were his feelings, all along, he'd been in love. It wasn't Jedidiah, it was him. He raced his mind back to Uriel, he wondered why the angel had been so adamant about him and Abel not getting together.

It didn't matter, the joy he felt was nearly overwhelming as he laid back in the bed with a soft chuckle. He loved Abel, and the best part about it? Abel loved him. The hunter groaned, opening his eyes to the world. Chamuel rolled himself to look at the man with new light in his eyes.

"What happened to you?" Abel murmured, yawning "did you get laid?" He teased. Chamuel snorted at this, laughing

"No, I'm just-- I'll tell you later," he chuckled, not wanting to tell Abel about the time he spent with Fran just yet.

"How are you feeling?" Chamuel inquired, placing a hand on the other's cheek, letting his thumb run over the man's skin.

"Terrible…" he whispered, "Did I really kill my mother?"

Chamuel frowned now as the reality of the situation set back in, "yeah," he whispered. Abel nodded numbly, rubbing his eyes a bit as he pushed himself into the angel's chest.

Warm, molten lava dripped onto the blonde's heart turning it to fire. He wrapped his arms around the hunter, holding him close with a small sigh of relief as he finally allowed the feelings to swirl through him.

"Cham, I...need your opinion on something," Abel murmured, glancing up at the other with sad eyes.

"Anything," Chamuel whispered, Abel hesitated and let out a sigh.

"I...this is hard to admit," he started, "but Cham I…" He stopped, seeming to think deeply about asking the question as if he expected Chamuel to be opposed to it, "do you think I'd be less of a man if I had a kid?"

Chamuel blinked in surprise, "what brought this on? And a lotta guy h--" Stopping, he shut his mouth and let the words swirl within his thoughts, "Wait...do you mean…?"

"Yeah, I mean that. I still got it all." He murmured, feeling a rush of embarrassment tug through him.

"What brought this on?" Chamuel repeated, scanning the others features.

"It's just, people...have been messaging me these terrible messages and" He paused, not wanting to mention Arphaxat "...I guess I haven't felt like a man recently," he murmured, sitting up. Chamuel followed the other, turning so he could look in the others eyes as he spoke.

"I just..I know it's stupid," he whispered, hugging himself "but I always wanted a family...yaknow? It was the one part about being a girl I was okay with. I always dreamed I'd meet someone and be with them...you know, forever or...whatever," he bit his lip, trying to come up with the right words.

"And if we wanted I wouldn't mind carrying a kid, but now...I'm thinking maybe that just makes me a woman. Maybe I'll never be a man. I'll never have the right parts,"

Chamuel had never seen him hate his own gender identity so much, since meeting Abel the man acted like a rock when it came to his gender. The intense sadness that rolled from the other caused Chamuel's heart to shatter. He couldn't even begin to understand what the man was struggling with.

"Abel no," Chamuel whispered softly, reaching forward and taking the other's face in his hands. Pressing his forehead to Abel's,

"You're a man," he murmured, "everything about you, even if you're nine months pregnant. You're still a man,"

Abel let out a soft sigh, shutting his eyes tight.

"I just-- I'm scared Cham, everything that's happening I don't even think I'll get there. It's such a stupid dream, to want to get married or have fucking kids. To be a dad i--"

Chamuel leaned forward and pressed his lips to Abel's, silencing him. Abel gasped against the kiss before melting into it, the Sparks that rolled through the angel's chest were unmatched. He'd never felt this way in his hundreds of years as he pulled away from the kiss only to kiss the other again.

Abel wrapped his arms around the angel's neck, tugging him closer as Chamuel leaned more on him. The Chamulet glowed bright in the dark room as if celebrating the connection the two shared.

Chamuel Kissed him over and over, enjoying the feelings that shot through his bones as he pressed his tongue against the other's soft lips. The king let out a soft gasp, opening his mouth as they kissed. Chamuel felt warmth racing from his chest to his groin as he rolled his tongue against Abel's, every part of his being screaming to get closer as he pulled himself on top of his King.

Abel let out a soft moan as his back hit the mattress, pulling Chamuel close as the angel let his hands run to Abel's hips. He pulled away from the others lips, Abel took in a few deep breaths as the Chamuel kissed at his neck.

"Cham," Abel moaned, this sent a shot of warmth and excitement through the angel as he moved his hands up the other's shirt.

Abel gasped softly, panic exploded in the mans head. His mind reeled back to Arphaxat sending a rush of adrenaline into his system. He shoved the other off, Chamuel sat up with a puzzled expression on his face as he was shoved away.

"Abel w--"

"Stop!" He snapped, his eyes wide as frustration and anxiety bit deep into his system "I'm sick of this shit, Chamuel!" He growled causing the angel to flinch.

"You always do this! We get close, I go all in and you back out. I'm sick of being stonewalled,"

He pushed the angel off him more, leaping off the bed and grabbing his shoes

"W-wait! Abel! Let me explain," Chamuel said, shuffling a bit but unable to move much due to the discomfort in his pants.

"No," Abel pulled his shoes on and grabbed the door handle, "this...hurts too much Chamuel," he whispered, looking back at the angel with a glare in his eyes.

"I can't do this anymore with you, I just can't. I can't hurt anymore because you don't know what you want,"

"Please, Abel I understand now please ..come back…" he begged.

Abel shook his head, throwing open the door

"Where are you going?" Chamuel called out to the man.

"Away from you," he hissed, storming down the stairs.

"Wait!" Chamuel called from the bed, but he knew it was fruitless.

"Don't follow me!" He shouted back, shoving his way past Bailey and Baal.

"Wait! Abel!" Bailey cried out but this didn't stop the hunter as he shoved his way out of the home.

"Leave me alone," he snapped at his friend. Shutting the door behind him.

***

Abel shut the Impala door behind him, slamming his fist into the wheel a few times in pure anger. It festered within him, he killed his own mother and now Chamuel not only kissed him but did so after telling the other his darkest secret.

"I'm sick of crying," he hissed, rubbing his eyes as the car roared to life. He glanced up at the mirror, then to the passenger seat. He couldn't see Dean who sat beside him, wishing desperately he could reach his son.

Abel pulled his phone out as it went off, sniffling.

'Abel, please talk to me! I just want to apologize,'

Arphaxat typed, Abel let out a sigh. The thought of the other brought him a comfort he couldn't describe, he didn't understand his intense desire to be with the blonde. Just minutes ago the thought of him scared the living daylights out of Abel but seeing the message now? It was confusing.

'please Abe! I love you, I just want to talk. I can explain...I'll even buy you a beer. We can talk at a bar, totally public! No funny business!'

Abel thought this over for a few seconds, scrolling through the messages the other had been sending. Though Abel hadn't responded to a single one the demon was determined to spam him.

'fine. I could use a drink. What bar?'

He typed out, Dean stared at him with wide eyes.

"Come on, son. Don't do this," Dean murmured as Abel waited for the message. Pulling out of his parking spot making his way to the front gate of Norma's home, Arphaxat sent him a message. Dean leaned forward to read the address before vanishing into the air, he had to tell Sam.

Abel hit the freeway rapidly as he followed the GPS, he wanted to drink, to forget. He kept going over what happened with Chamuel, he desperately wanted to be with the angel but he feared now that the man would reject him again. He couldn't handle another rejection from the blonde. The night was starting to ramp up, moon shining down with brilliant blue light onto the world. It was still early, he hoped not many would be at the bar as he swung into the parking lot.

Stepping out of the car, gravel crunched under his feet. The bar was small with a neon red and black sign. The flashing red sent a small trickle of dread into the man's broken heart but he didn't care at this point. He passed a crossroads as he pushed his way into the pub, it was larger looking inside with a handful of posters on the wall. He could hear swing playing overhead which was an odd choice for a bar.

A few frat boys laughed near a couple of pool tables, the cups all had silly phrases on them.

'Bottoms up'

'Don't wine!'

'Vodkaholic'

Abel snorted as he eyed the phrases on the beer mugs, scouring the crowd with narrowed green eyes until he saw the familiar blonde in a booth. The man waved him over, Abel let out a shaken breath as he marched towards Arphaxat. Sitting down in front of his ex boyfriend.

"I'm happy to see you," Arphaxat whispered sheepishly.

"Why didn't you tell me about the Chamulet?" Abel inquired as the demon pushed a shot over to him.

"Drink with me, and I'll tell you," Abel rolled his eyes at this, taking the shot with a groan. Arphaxat took a shot as well, "I was going to tell you. That's why I said we needed to talk,"

The blonde said, racing his fingers through his hair.

"Point is, I realized what I was doing wasn't right," he murmured, "I...let things get to me and I'm reformed but...I'm still learning," he looked down sadly at his beer.

A waiter waltzed over to them, he looked familiar but Abel couldn't place him as he dropped a few more shots off. His long, curly hair falling over his shoulders, his button up shirt tucked into his pants but the front opened to show off the hair on his strong looking chest. Abel eyed the scar on the other's neck, it was as if his throat had been slit and healed over.

His familiarity was going to drive the hunter insane as he turned on his heels and sauntered off towards the bartop. Another man sat behind the bar with a smile on his face, staring at him with narrowed eyes. He'd never seen the sharp faced man before but the look he was giving Abel made him shutter lightly.

"I ordered a few rounds, hope you don't mind," Arphaxat murmured. Abel turned his head back to the other, blinking away his general anxiety as he took the alcohol, downing it and slamming the glass to the wooden table top below.

"Fuck it, talking sucks. Let's just drink. As friends,"

"As friends!" Arphaxat's smile got big at this, taking a shot as well, "Bottoms up!" The demon laughed, holding up the glass with the words 'bottoms up' written across the front.

The pair continued to drink, talking back and forth about nothing in particular until the topic of Chamuel came up. The waiter dropped another set of shots on their table, Abel's words came out in a sad slur.

"I told the fucker my darkest secret," he groaned, "an' he tried to fuck me,"

"What?! I can't believe it! What a low life, all angels are the same. I swear," Arphaxat ranted, "I'd never do that you know,"

"Yeah yeah," Abel waved a hand in the air, downing some of his beer with a groan. The beer tasted a bit off but he chalked it up to the fact that he was so drunk he couldn't feel his teeth.

"What was the secret?" Arphaxat asked, though he drank a lot his words didn't come in a slur like Abel's. His tolerance was much higher than the humans.

"Ah, just-- want a family. Yaknow? Winchester bloodline an' all," he laughed, "sounds stupid now that I say it again,"

"It's not stupid! How would you have kids though?"

Abel hesitated, but he was far too drunk to care at this point.

"Just have 'em, I got the parts! Why not! But if I had a penis it'd be easier," he whispered, "could just fuck a girl. Wouldn't have to deal with all this shit,"

"All those people online would probably stop attacking you too," Arphaxat muses. Abel scoffed.

"Yeah, maybe. I just don't get why it's such a big deal? I don't have a penis! So what!"

There was a slow silence as another shot was set down in front of Abel and Arphaxat. The waiter shared a look with Arphaxat before making his way back towards the bartop.

"Hey, you need this more than me," Arphaxat whispered, pushing the shot glasses towards the brunette. Abel took one then picked up the second, looking at the words.

'Drink me'

Was written in a bright, glitter pen on the side of the shot glass. It was a weird one, the others had phrases, puns or quotes but this one seemed off.

"You just gonna stare at it?" Arphaxat asked with a laugh, Abel shrugged as he took the shot. It burned more than the others but in his drunken state he didn't notice. It almost had a chalky bitter taste to it, though his mind didn't let him linger on this.

"Hey," Arphaxat said, grinning at the other. "I got an idea," Abel tilted his head at the man.

"An idea?"

The blonde swayed as he got to his feet, holding out a hand to help the other up. Abel hesitated before taking the man's hand and allowing himself to be hoisted up, he laughed as his head swam. Colliding with the other's chest sending a shot of warmth through the hunter. Did he still have feelings for Arphaxat? His mind raced over all the good times he had with the man, though the bad times came up too he couldn't help but think of all the good. After all, the bad was only a small percentage, right?

Colors flashed over his vision for a heart beat, did Arphaxat drug him? He couldn't have. Abel hadn't seen the man touch any of his drinks.

The blonde held his hand and pulled him towards the door and outside, lacing their fingers together as they went.

"Where are we going?" Abel asked, his words continued to slur and the world around him seemed to swim and move. The blonde stopped him right by the crossroads, pressing his forehead to Abel's with a smile.

"Hey, I got an idea," he whispered, Abel blinked up at the other through hazy eyes.

"Yeah you said that, what is it?" He slurred out,

"I can give you a penis,"

Abel looked at the other in stunned silence, waiting to hear the man proclaim it as a joke but that never happened.

"Y-you can?" He asked with eyes wide as moons.

"We've done deals before, Abe. Right?" He wrapped his arms around Abel, leaning down and kissing the others lips. Abel felt far too drunk to fight the blonde in the kiss, part of him enjoyed the familiarity of it. As if everything that happened recently had only been a nightmare and he was in the forest with Arphaxat again.

"How?" Abel asked, pulling away.

"Just need something from you, and I can give you a penis." The man's smile stretched wide.

"What do you want?" Abel whispered, feeling a buzz at the back of his head from the alcohol and something else he couldn't place.

"Man, I'm not feeling good," he whispered, stumbling away from the other. Arphaxat caught him, pulling him close.

"I just need your soul," he whispered, Abel pushed away from the man.

"My soul?" He slurred loudly, looking shocked at the man.

"Baby, it's okay. It's not a big deal," Arphaxat soothed, "I'll even let you live your entire life! However long that is. When you're done? Well, you will be with me. Forever."

"Forever?"

"We can have a family Abel, we can!" Arphaxat said with joy in his voice, "we can get a surrogate, we can have all you want. Together. When it's all said and done, we can live together for eternity."

"In hell."

"It's not as bad as you'd think, after all I came from hell! And I'm great!"

Abel felt his phone going off, the group had been calling him nonstop and he ignored it. Something inside him begged to pick up the phone, he pulled the cell out to see Chamuel was calling. Anger rushed through his system,

"Abel, I love you, I'd never pretend." Arphaxat whispered, leaning forward and pressing the red 'end call' button on the screen.

"With a penis, you'll be cis. No one will misgender you, no one can bully you, and that angel? Maybe I could be your Lionheart instead, and being cis? I'll just love you more!"

***

Chamuel growled as the phone call went to voicemail,

"Abel please!" He shouted into the phone, his voice breaking as he spoke. "I'm so sorry, please let me talk to you,"

"Cham that's message ten million," Bailey said from the front driver's seat as they blasted down the highway. Baal sat in the passenger seat beside her, Sam smashed himself beside Chamuel, Donnie and Israfil. Donnie had his head sticking out of the window, sniffing the air for any trace of the hunter. Tears ran down Chamuel's cheeks as he desperately called again.

"We gotta find him," Chamuel sobbed out, "I'm so stupid!"

"Yes you are, just we can discuss that later," Bailey called into the back. Sam glanced down at his phone before a voice caught his attention,

"Sammy!"

He looked around but no one else seemed to hear Dean, the older hunter pulled the pocket watch out and flipped it open. Dean was standing in the mirror with a look of relief.

"Thank God! I've been trying to get your attention for ages!! Hours!"

Sam gave the other an annoyed look, as if to hurry him up with whatever he had to say.

"I know where Abel is,"

Sam pulled up the GPS on his phone, quickly typing in the address that Dean had said to him. It pulled up a small bar outside of the city limits, not too far away but far enough.

"Make a u-turn!" Sam shouted to Bailey, "I know where he is,"

"Did he contact you?" Donnie asked, ducking back into the car.

"No, just trust me," Sam said quickly. That was enough for Bailey who did a quick turn in the large van.

***

Abel stared at Arphaxat, he wasn't sure what to think but his head swam with possibility. He knew the group wouldn't be happy to know he was with Arphaxat again but the other demons were reformed, the idea of having a normal life as a cisgendered person was something he silently wished for every night before bed. Especially recently,

"Come on Abe, don't you trust me?" He whispered, holding out his hand.

"We don't even need to kiss, we can just shake on it,"

His eyes moved from the man's open palm to his smiling face, the world swayed again around him. He could feel something was wrong in his body, he felt hot, dizzy, even confused as he tried to put together a coherent thought.

***

Bailey blasted through a red light, she didn't care. Something was wrong, her Adinkra whined loudly into the air as if trying to warn her. Israfil's did the same, causing her to panic more.

"Fuck fuck fuck," she kept repeating over and over to herself. Chamuel looked horrified out the window, tears continued to run down his face.

"Faster, Bailey! Move faster, I've never heard an Adinkra make this noise," Israfil practically had to shout over the sound.

"I'm going as fast as this shitty hippy van can go!" She yelled out, Baal placed a hand on her shoulder but said nothing. The GPS pinged, stating they only had a five minute drive left.

***

Abel swayed, Arphaxat pushed his hand closer.

"Deal?" He asked, frustration edged the man's voice. Abel looked from the outstretched hand back to the man's face. His smile. It used to bring such comfort to the hunter, did he want it back?

Abel looked at the hand again before grabbing it with his own.

"Deal," he said.

Arphaxat smiled wide, Abel gasped as pain shot through his system, attempting to yank his hand away but the demon held it tight. Crushing it, his smile growing wider and wider as a dark energy seeped from the demon and swirled from his arm and surrounded the king. Abel gasped as the dark energy entered his chest, the Adinkra screamed as if it were being crushed. Pain flooded his system, he yelled out in agony. Arphaxat smiled bright, his sharp teeth glittered in the golden light that was being forced out of Abel's chest. The light rolled over Abel's arm, being chased into the demon's.

"A golden soul? Never seen that before," Arphaxat nearly salivated at this.

Abel watched in horror as the glittering golden light vanished from his being completely leaving him with an empty feeling he never felt before. A spark exploded between their palms causing Abel to rip his hand away. Screaming out in agony from the sudden jolt of electricity.

Arphaxat sighed, laughing as the soul of the King raced through his veins. The Adinkra fell silent, its golden color turned stale as if it were starting to rust.

"What about...my end?" Abel asked, Arphaxat turned to him.

The warmth and joy in the other smile vanished, leaving a thin, devilish grin.

"Oh right, for you!"

The demon snapped his fingers, Abel blinked in surprise as something appeared in his open palm. A penis, it was still warm and covered in blood as if someone had just chopped it off and handed it to him. It's blood ran down the hunter's arm causing him to yowl in fear and surprise, stumbling as he dropped it.

Arphaxat roared out in laughter, "I don't understand," Abel whispered, looking up at the blonde with wide eyes.

"You fucking idiot!" Arphaxat spat, "why the fuck would I ever want anything with you?! especially a 'family'!"

Abel took a few steps back, he swore he heard his heart shatter. The pain in his chest was so great he nearly fell to his knees.

"I-I don't understand," he whispered.

"You asked for a penis, I gave you one! Never said it would be yours," The demons cackled.

The realization of what just happened fell on the king, his eyes moved from the severed manhood on the floor back to his ex boyfriend.

"No…" he whispered, "you...said you loved me"

"You're so stupid! You should have listened to your idiot friends," Arphaxat spat, "that stupid angels been in love with you since day one and damn was it fun to fuck with that."

Abel took a few steps back as darkness swamped his vision, he went to his knees and vomited. He couldn't remember the last time he felt so incredibly sick as his body shuttered,

Arphaxat walked over to the man. Leaning down to him,

"You'll never be a man, Abel. Ever. Not even God will give you that peace," he shoved Abel back causing the hunter to collapse to the floor. Staring up at the stars above as the alcohol and drugs in his system fought against one another.

"Maybe I drugged you a little too much," Arphaxat mused as Abel's head fell back and he was out. The demon reached into the man's pocket, pulling the smartphone out. Chamuels name jumped up on the screen, the demon hit the green talk button and held it to his ear.

"Abel! Thank God! Where are you?"

"He's by the crossroads."

There was a silence on the other end, "if you don't come get him soon, he'll be a coyote's dinner."

With that the demon hung up the phone, dropping it to the floor and walking away from the fallen king. He whistled to himself as he went, a hop to his step as he vanished into nothingness.

***

They tore down the road, he could see the lights of the bar. The Adinkra's all fell silent now, worry flooded the angel as he tried calling Abel's phone one more time, praying he'd pick up.

"He's not going to--" Sam started to say only for the line to click.

"Abel! Thank God! Where are you?" Chamuel asked, putting the phone on speaker.

His heart stopped when the voice who spoke wasn't his king's, but belonged to the person he dreaded hearing from.

"He's by the crossroads," the demon said with a laugh in his voice.

The entire group fell silent, a stone cold quiet that almost made Bailey stop the car.

"If you don't come get him soon he'll be a coyote's dinner."

With that the line went dead, everyone still remained silent as they pulled into the parking lot. The angel shoved past Donnie and pushed into the outside world before Bailey even came to a full stop.

He didn't need to look far, he spotted the hunter laying on the ground not far from them. His body looked lifeless as the angel raced towards him, screaming out his name. He collapsed beside the man,

"No no no," he whispered, crying hysterically as he tried to feel for a pulse. The rest of the group came up behind him as Chamuel pulled the other into his arms,

"He's breathing!" Chamuel said through tears.

Baal raced up with Bailey close behind only for the demon king to freeze; he took one look at Abel and bowed his head.

"His soul," Baal whispered, "is gone."

Bailey leaned down to the other, pressing her fingers to his neck to check his pulse.

"Faint, the bastard must have drugged him, God he smells like a brewery,"

"This is all my fault," Chamuel sobbed, Baal looked the other over for a few heart beats.

"I'll be back," he grunted, before Bailey could say anything the demon vanished.

"We need to get him to the hospital," Sam said, "he might need his stomach pumped,"

"I'll call an ambulance," Bailey replied, yanking out her phone.

"No, that'll take too long," Chamuel got to his feet, holding the man in his arms. War flooded his gaze, before anyone could say anything the angel took off into the night sky. Giant white wings shone in the moonlight.

***

Mishka raced up the set of stairs that lead to her boyfriend's apartment, she was fuming! Anger burned through her veins so hot she felt she'd scream, no one had returned any of her messages despite her constant nagging for them to do so. That is, until she finally got a hold of Israfil. The angel of music and her weren't close, she didn't attempt to message him till the end. She was horrified when he told her the entire story,

"Wait, and they left him there? By his mothers fucking corpse!? By himself!" She spat into the phone, she could hear Donnie in the background working on something.

"I-I...guess I didn't think of it like that," He admitted, his voice was sad when he answered but now she could hear the guilt. She hung up the phone in pure rage, her boyfriend had been left alone for an entire day. Not a soul checked in on him, she couldn't believe her friends would do such a thing. Though she understood their concern for Abel they had hours to check on the doctor.

She took in a few ragged breaths as she pelted down the hallway, attempting to keep the anger she felt towards her friends out of her face and voice. Cain was going to need a lot of help now, she had plans to convince him to come back to Kansas with her. To bring him to the best psychologist she could possibly find, which wasn't hard due to how many people in her family worked in the mental health field. She was over the moon when her mother had practically told her Cain could move into their tiny home if he wanted.

She was aware of how fast she was moving with this relationship but she knew his toxic behavior stemmed from mental illness and a terrible environment that he was forced to live in. The man had been so excited to share he was a Winchester just a few days ago and now she wasn't sure if he'd be happy about it anymore after hearing the story of what happened.

"Cain," She called as she came to the red door, knocking on it a few times but it simply swung inwardly slowly. Creaking loudly, she hesitated and pushed it open. Her heart stopped, the living room was covered in blood. His mother's corpse had been placed on the couch, upright, with the television playing a game show softly. Her head was patched up badly but the blood still remained, as if he were attempting to find any sort of normalcy.

"Cain?" She called out, making sure not to step into the blood that was splattered everywhere. She eyed the coffee table's edge, then the large gash in the woman's head. Even with the bandages she could see the rotting brain inside, the smell was rancid making her snort a few times as she attempted to get used to it.

"There's no way someone could have tripped and caused that sort of damage," She murmured to herself as her eyes ran over the woman's head. She looked down at the trails of blood that moved from the living room to the restroom.

"Sugar Cain?" She called again, walking down the short hallway and glancing in the bathroom. A cold feeling of dread washed into her system when she spotted a gun sitting on the floor. Fear flooded her body, she moved quicker now. Making her way to Cain's room, opening the door but it was empty. Her heart skipping over and over as she made towards another door, Eve's name was etched into the wood with a few flowers around it.

She grabbed the handle to this door and pushed inward, she relaxed as she saw Cain sitting up on his mothers bed. He glanced up at Mishka, his face stained with dried, caked on blood. His hands and shirt were also covered in it, as if he had never even tried to wash it off. His eyes were broken as she made her way slowly to him.

"Mother let you in?" He whispered, she could see his brain working overtime attempting to understand everything that happened.

His own brother had killed his mother, then he was left alone to rot with the corpse of his only close relative. She didn't blame him for his confusion,

"Yes baby," She murmured, making her way over to the doctor. Tears rolled down his cheeks as she wrapped her arms around him, hugging his head to her chest and kissing the top of his head a few times. He clung to her, nearly crushing her as he hugged her. He started to sob into her chest as she held him, sitting down beside him and allowing the man to break down. She pet his head lightly, rocking him slowly as if he were a child.

"I'm here," She whispered, "I'm not going to leave you, I love you," She whispered to him over and over. She glanced around her with pain in her eyes, a noose was broken on the floor, another gun with bullets scattered everywhere. Has he attempted to end it? Had it not worked? She shoved this to the back of her mind, thankful that he was here in her arms and not with his mother in hell.

After an hour or so he seemed to calm down, pulling away from her and blinking around him.

"Sugar, do you know where you are?" She asked him, putting a hand on his cheek and running her fingers against the dried blood, smudging it more than it already had been. He looked at her blankly.

"I'm...home," He whispered,

"Yes, do you...know what happened?"

"With what?"

Mishka hesitated, she didn't want to take him into the other room to see his mother in case it sparked everything back up but she couldn't leave him here. She had to take him to see a doctor, she eyed the dark marks around his neck which made her nearly throw up. Rolling her hands up and down his arm, tears running down her cheeks. She didn't want to lose him,

"It's okay, it doesn't matter right now," She whispered, getting to her feet. He followed her, holding one of her hands tight as she moved.

"Do you...want to go get something to eat?" Mishka whispered,

Cain looked at her then towards the door, "Mother might want me to stay," He whispered.

"We can pick her up something too,"

Mishka had to pick her words carefully, he needed to understand things slowly or she could risk setting back any progress she was already starting to make.

"We...need to at least make her...her tea," He whispered,

She swallowed hard, he would have to see the corpse. She'd call the police after they got to the car, have them pick up the corpse but right now she couldn't possibly do that. He could see her means of helping as another attack, or worse another betrayal.

"Okay honey bear, we can do that," She whispered to him, he nodded slowly as the pair left the room behind. In the lights of the hallway she could see what he'd done to himself in an attempt to find any sort of escape. His neck black and blue from the noose, large rings sat under his eyes as if he hadn't slept in days.

"I love you so much," She whispered to him, eyes falling to the Adinkra around his neck. It looked as if it were rusting, turning into a deep green which confused her.

"I love you," He whispered back, "I love you,"

She smiled at this, it told her he knew who she was at least. She'd seen people fall into such a mental break it would cause them to regress to a child-like state and forget everything. She knew he had a long way to go, but if she could get him help sooner than later it wouldn't be so bad.

A shiver rolled through her body at a sudden chill as they moved towards the kitchen, she tried to pull him in but his eyes fell to his mothers corpse. A few flies had settled on the skin, buzzing loudly into the air.

"I'll make her some tea, and we can go," Mishka whispered, letting Cain go and moving into the kitchen.

Silently wondering where Amaryllis was she started to open a few of the drawers that sat above the stove top, most of the cabinets were empty of anything which confused the woman but she didn't have time to think about it. Finally she found a few boxes of old tea, they sat beside a couple of vials of an unknown plant. She narrowed her eyes at the glass, a few of the vials were empty as if they'd been used up. Mishka pulled one of the small containers down, inspecting it.

She recognized the plant but couldn't place where she knew it from, it was completely dried out and crushed but she could make out the stems and a few of the leaves.

"Hey Cain," She called, the man let out a soft grunt in response and peaked his head into the kitchen. His eyes troubled, she could see he was starting to process everything.

"Honey, what is this?" She asked, holding up the vile.

He blinked a few times, shaking his head, "Special tea," He murmured, "Amaryllis...they use a lot of herbs...we use a little in my tea to make it sweet,"

Mishka's heart fell, was he being poisoned? What was this?

"Oh, my bad of course," She whispered, pocketing the vile as she quickly grabbed the tea. Not bothering to warm up water as she snatched a mug from the cabinet. She needed to work fast, if Amaryllis did decide to show up she didn't know if the other would be so kind towards her.

"I don't want to," She froze as Cain's voice echoed around the room, was he talking to her? She glanced over to him, his pupils were large as he glared daggers at nothing.

"Cain, baby, are you okay?"

"She is lying,"

Mishka froze in place, she stood in the doorway of the kitchen. Cain was staring up at a large, demonic shadow that towered over him. It stood in front of the door with a broad, white smile.

"She's not!" Cain spat out, looking back to Mishka and then to Cherm.

"He killed mother, mother is dead!" Cherm roared

"Mother isn't dead, she's right there," Cain yelled back, pointing to the corpse. His body trembled violently as he spoke.

Mishka gawked at the shadow, dread pumped into her veins as she set the glass down. Her mind working a mile a minute as she attempted to make out what exactly was happening, she'd never seen this creature before.

"Cain," She whispered, "Who is this?"

Cain looked at her as if she was stupid, tilting his head, "Cherm!" He said with a snort, "You've know him your entire life,"

Cain didn't know who she was now, she wondered what triggered this. This sudden relapse,

"Of course," She whispered, "My bad,"

Cain nodded to her, "I am the king," he shot back at Cherm, "You will listen to me, Amaryllis is not the enemy,"

"Abel is not fit to be king, he killed mother. We must choose, we must kill Abel."

Mishka's heart stopped, she took a step back as fear flooded her body. She didn't know about Cherm, or even what he was but now Cain's erratic behavior at times made sense. She often heard him muttering to himself but she had assumed he held an undiagnosed mental illness.

"You're right," Cain whispered, his eyes suddenly seeming clear as he turned his gaze to Mishka.

"Abel isn't fit to be king, I am." He said directly at her as if she were the brother he found himself hating.

"Cain…" Mishka whispered.

He blinked a few times at her now as if he didn't recognize her, "You're not Amaryllis," He whispered, a glare flashed over his face.

"Who are you?" He demanded, growling at her now. Cherm's smile grew wider, and Mishka knew it was too late. She was too late. This demon had corrupted her lover, maybe she'd been too late since the beginning.

"I've made my decision," He snarled, darkness started to swirl around his legs. The lights flickered above, whispered inaudible to himself.

"Abel must die for his sins," He spat out, and Mishka took a few steps back.

"Cain, I know Abel did something wrong," She yelled out, having to raise her voice against the loud wind that started to roar around them.

"But it was an accident,"

"You're siding with him?" Cain asked, tiling his head to the woman like an angry dog. She bit her lip, her mind attempted to find the correct words but she drew a blank as fear flooded her body.

"Cain, please, listen to me," She started, Cherm swirled around Cain with a joyful smile on its face.

"This world needs a proper King. Someone who will be fair, someone who understands science," Cain continued, "Abel isn't fit to be king of kings, he doesn't even have a soul anymore," As he spoke it was as if two voices were speaking at once. Somewhere in the back of her mind she knew that this wasn't him, that the demon's corruption ran deep. She could see Cherm's body melting against the doctors.

"What do you mean he doesn't have a soul?" Mishka asked, eyes falling to the Adinkra that glowed a brilliant deep, holly green light. "Why are you doing this?" Her voice was angry now as she talked to Cherm.

"It runs in the family," Cherm laughed, a shot of darkness exploding from the floor. Mishka flinched but the golden Talisman around her neck glowed bright, breaking the darkness before it knocked into her skin.

"Cain! Please!"

Cain pulled something from his pocket, he glared at it. She recognized it as a tarot card, and he threw it at her. It landed on the floor beside her feet, she leaned down and picked it up.

'Justice'

It changed in color as she moved it as if it were holographic, but the movement reminded her more of a lava lamp.

"Get out, as your king, I spare your life," He spat at her,

"Cain please,"

"Get out!" He roared, Cherm melted into the man's skin fully now. Turning his caramel flesh to black. The man fell to his knees as the darkness started to take him over, Mishka felt tears racing down her cheeks as she skipped past him and grabbed the door handle.

"I love you Cain," She whispered, "I'm going to save you,"

With that she threw the door open, racing out of the home and down the hallway. She could hear him laughing, but it wasn't his laugh. She knew this wasn't him. She puffed as she got to her car, throwing open the door and hopping it. Just as she started to drive out the building exploded. She shot her head around with wide, fearful eyes as black flames flooded the once nice, peaceful building. Her heart broke in her chest as she spotted a shape fly from the inside, up into the air with pitch black wings. Rubbing her eyes she pulled onto the street, a few more explosions sounded as the building collapsed in on itself. What had she gotten herself into?

***

Abel's eyes flew open, the hare was sitting on his chest. It's nose twitched, eyes unblinking.

"Little ugly?" Abel murmured, the white rabbit leapt off his chest. Racing away, the hunter felt pain explode through his head as he sat up. Dark blood ran down his face, he put a hand up and winced at the crown of thorns that was settled on his skin.

He tried to yank it off but the pain was too much, he groaned and got to his feet. He was in the forest. Was Arphaxat here? He needed some type of answers. How did he even get here? His memories flooded back to him now as he looked around attempting to find the blonde.

Abel heard a rustle in the bramble bushes that lined the cobblestone below his feet. The rabbit stuck its head out, twitching its nose and turning back into the brush. He made his way towards the animal,

"Arphaxat!" Abel shouted. The forest was dark, thorny bramble covered the grounds unlike when he first came here.

He pushed his way through the undergrowth until his eyes fell on the hole, it had been a long time since he'd seen it. The man was so used to just appearing whenever the demon wanted him too. He narrowed his eyes as he looked inside before leaping in, the darkness swamped over his vision until he landed on his feet. The ground felt squishy to the touch, it almost moved under him as he took a few cautious steps towards the clearing.

Fear plunged over him as he walked out, bodies stacked high towards a crimson sky, bones made a throne on top of the piles of corpses. There, sat Arphaxat. He waved at the man with a bright grin, Abel glared daggers at the demon.

"What am I doing here?" He shouted,

Arphaxat laughed at this, "oh, you think you're going to survive? I gave you enough drugs to kill a horse!"

Abel took a step back, "you're lying,"

"If you think in lying, than fight,"

"Fight?" Abel murmured, the ground under him swaying. He let out a scream of surprise as hands exploded from the black dirt below.

The loud moaning of the dead filled the air, Abel gasped in shock and fear as hands grabbed at his body. He started to get tugged downward into the hot, sweaty darkness of the rotting corpses. Clawing with all his might to escape, his fingernails digging into the flesh of the dead as he dragged himself upwards. Muscles screaming in pain as Arphaxat laughed. Watching him with a wide grin,

"You can't escape! This is the end," The blonde sang out, "You'll never be with that stupid angel, never have a family,"

Tears burned into Abel's eyes as he worked himself against the dark hands, a flash of white out of the corner of his eye caught his attention. Arphaxat continued his rambles, sipping wine from a glass on top of his throne of bones.

"Help me!" Abel whispered to the white hare that leapt from the undergrowth. its nose twitched as Abel clawed his way towards it. The hands continued to grab his legs, waist, hips, trying to drown him. Drag him to the pits of hell. Abel reached towards the rabbit with all his might, grabbing the ground just inches from the animal's nose. Solid ground. He dragged himself forward until his body met the floor.

Arphaxat laughed loudly,

"You can't escape! Try all you want, you'd need a miracle!" He shouted as Abel pulled himself out of the large sea of corpses. The moaning grew louder, the corpses started to clamber over one another to grab at him, moving like ants together in one motion towards the man.

"Run Alice! Run!" Arphaxat shouted at him, laughing wildly. Abel didn't stop to say anything, he raced back into the deep, blue woods that surrounded the clearing he once felt so safe in. The rabbit padded in front of him, its back legs thumping wildly as it went. Abel followed after, fighting against the bramble and vines that got in his path.

***

Baal stopped in front of the puddle with a curious glint in his gaze. Dean was sitting before him, his eyes wide as he slammed his hands on the top of Abel's life water. Screaming at him to run, to get away. The puddle was only a few inches wide now and was rapidly getting smaller, the demon king put a boot on the field that seemed to be stopping anyone from interfering with the puddle. He dropped an angel to the floor as Dean glanced up at him, shocked. The golden plated brass knuckles on Baal's hands glimmered in the harsh light of the forest,

"Had to fight my way in, you'll have to show me an easier way at some point," He grunted towards Dean who leapt to his feet.

"Baal, right?" Dean asked, glancing down at his son's puddle, "I gotta save him, Baal! He can't go to hell,"

Baal nodded at this, "You can't,"

Dean looked at the other in complete shock, "I can!" He spat, "And I will!"

The angel beside Baal groaned painfully, Dean could see the demon king had beaten the angelic creature's face in pretty good.

"You already saved him," Baal mused, "By telling Sam,"

"You can hear me?" Dean asked with wide eyes, Baal snorted at this and nodded.

"Nope, but I recognized the watch Sam has, there's no time to explain,"

Baal held a fist back, bringing it down hard on the force field that was keeping the puddle from being touched. It shattered under the demon king's might and power, causing Dean to leap back in shock.

"I got it from here," Baal grunted out, smiling at Dean.

***

Abel tore through the forest, screaming as vines snagged him. He struggled to get out, breaking them as he went. The moaning of the dead filled his head as he turned to look back. The corpses crawled after him quickly, their mouths open as they screamed out into the air, black blood dripping from their eyes, nose and open jaws. They seemed to be rotting as they moved, melting into the shadows.

Abel continued to run, tears racing down his cheeks as he fought to keep away but he was rapidly growing tired. The loss of blood from the thorny crown was starting to get to him as he moved. The rabbit got farther and farther away but he continued to move, until he saw it! The opening! If he could get out maybe he'd survive, or at least have a fighting chance.

Pain shot through him as a hand grabbed his ankles, he yowled in shock as his chin met the floor. Kicking at the corpses that flowed towards him like a river.

"Fuck!" He screamed, more hands grabbed at his body. He clawed at the ground, only a few inches from his escape. His eyes moved to a large branch, he grabbed it as he was hoisted backwards towards the sea of dead. Shoving it into the ground and using it to hoist himself forward, groaning with the efforts of fighting against the strong arms.

Yanking the stick out of the ground he shoved it in again, pulling himself forward more. It was working! He finally pulled himself free, racing for the opening that was now covered in the same, thick Euphorbia milii thorns that sat uptop his head. He burst through the exit, screaming in agony as the thorns ripped at his flesh.

He collapses, one leg still inside the hole. A hand had grabbed his leg, pulling him back down as the corpses faces pushed out of the small opening, Abel yowled again as he tried to fight the multiple hands that grabbed onto him. Even outside of the forest the dead continued to grab him, clawing at his skin, their flesh being ripping up by the thorns but it didn't stop them.

"Cham, I'm so sorry," He screamed out into the air as tears ran down his dirt covered face, "I'm so sorry!" He screwed his eyes shut as he was being dragged backwards, feeling himself give up.

"Trust me, he forgives ya,"

Abel's eyes flew open as Baal landed a hand punch to the arms of the dead. His golden knuckles shimmered in the red light of the sky above. Abel felt joy explode through his system as he scrambled for the demon king who stooped down and helped the shaken man to his feet. The corpses roared in anger, tearing themselves out of the forest with angry, whistling screams. Baal snorted, holding his first up, ready to fight.

"Baal! I can't fight, I don't have my bat," Abel waited out, fear flooded his features, "I don't even have the Adkinra's powers," He cried out.

Baal looked him over for a few short heartbeats, "You got two fists, don'tcha?" He asked pulling off the right brass knuckle, handing it over to Abel who looked shocked.

"You remember everything I taught ya?" Baal asked, Abel looked down at the golden knuckle before glancing back at Baal. He grinned, pulling the knuckle on causing Baal to give him a smile and a nod.

The opening exploded outward as a sea of the undead streamed out of it. Baal took a stance, Abel copied his stance. They remained back to back as the zombies roared towards them, Abel let out a breath.

"You got this, kid. Even when the world is about to eat 'ya, don't forget," Baal said as he slammed his fist into the head of the monster. Causing the head to fly off, the body collapses.

"You got love,"

Abel grinned bright at the man, he slammed his fist into an oncoming zombie. Sending it flying backwards but remaining on its feet.

"Get 'em right between the eyes! Remember, just like I taught you!"

With that the world around them exploded into chaos as the undead raced towards the pair but neither man stopped as they slammed their fists into the rotted flesh. Flies buzzed all around them but this was ignored as Abel fought,

"Too many!" Baal yelled after a short time, blood covered the floor as more and more corpses raced after them.

'I got love' Abel thought, his mind moved to Chamuel, to Sam, to his friends. He shut his eyes tight against the roaring corpses, taking in a breath. This was his mind. This wasn't Arphaxat's. This was his.

His eyes shot open, he held up a hand and with a roar of anger golden light exploded from his open palm. Blood raced down his nose as the corpses screamed in agony, Baal's eyes grew wide as he watched the king. A bright smile came to the demon's face, nodding at the other as the corpses started to retreat.

"Fuck no you don't," Abel snarled, wings, vivid, bright as the glittering golden sun exploded from his back. He shot into the air as the thorny crowned blossomed, covering his head in flowers.

His golden light vivid against the red of the sky, he screamed as light exploded from his body. Petals fell to the ground, Arphaxat looked up at Abel from his throne in terror as the king's light filled the air. Melting the corpses into ash, covering the blue forest and turning it to a vivid bright green.

"Fuck!" Arphaxat spat, leaping from his throne the demon raced away from the forest. Running as fast as his feet could carry him. Out of Abel's Forest.