At the cemetery. next day, morning.
Dean "Alright, this way."
I looked at Sam "What's the word from outside?""
Sam shook his head "Ghosts are still at it, trying to break down the barrier. I left some Hunters at the gym to keep the peace. The rest are set up around the perimeter, in case --"
Dean "In case the spell breaks and a hundred billion ghosts come bursting out. This better work."
Rowena " It will work. The "Rafforza l'incantesimo" is a potent transubstantiation spell. It can turn gossamer into concrete. Like I said, get me close to the epicenter, find me a nice, protected ghost-free space -- I'll patch those crumbling walls right up, and we'll all be home in time for high tea."
We walked past the rift in the ground. spirits were coming out of it.
then we stopped walking.
It was the crypt from the other die.
Cass nodded, not amused "Ah. Great. A nice, protected space."
Dean said annoyed " Ugh."
Inside.
Sam locked the doors. Dean and Castiel scattered the salt.
Rowena dropped her bag and took her coat off. She opened the Book of the Damned and prepared to perform the spell.
Suddenly something started banging on the door from the outside with force.
Rowena "Prendi ciò che è debole, rendilo forte. D'una piuma d'oca, fai una spada. D'una piuma d'oca, fai una spada. D'una piuma d'oca, fai una spada."
Her eyes glowed violet "Dalla nebbia, cemento. Dalla nebbia, cemento possente, impenetrabile, inflessibile."
Sam looked at his phone " Looks like it's working."
Rowena " Rendilo forte. Rendilo forte! Rendilo forte. Rendilo forte!"
The bowl clattered to the floor as she fell to the ground.
Me "Rowena?"
She looked at us terrified.
Rowena sobbed out in fear "We're all going to die."
We all looked at each other.
--
Rowena tried to stand up " Drink."
Sam "Of course. Dean."
Dean passed him water.
Rowena eyed the water annoyed " A real drink."
I handed her Dean's flask.
Belphegor "Okay, now that we're waiting for the witch's hooch to kick in, can we finally admit the obvious? Uh, she failed. So if we're keeping scores, that's, uh, 1 for the demon, uh, 0 for the witch."
Rowena " The enchantment couldn't work. No magic could. The spell put me into a -- a communion with the wall. I -- I could feel how weak it is, how close to collapse -- and I could feel why. I could feel them. All of them."
Sam "All of them? Them who?
Rowena "The spirits. Their anger and their hatred, writhing and raging. They're pressed up against those walls breaking them down. There are too many, and they're too wild and desperate and angry. Together, they are too strong. Those walls will fall, and there's no magic on Earth can stop it."
Castiel "How long do we have?"
Rowena "Hours, if we're lucky."
Dean "Then we get out of here, and we take out as many as we possibly can before those walls fall. Rowena, mix up some of those crystals you got."
She laughed, shaking her head "It wouldn't matter! Those things? It would be like tossing mousetraps at the Great Plague. I'm telling you -- it's over! Perhaps if I'd gotten here sooner, there are any number of spells I could've tried to close the gate to Hell before it got to this point. But now it's too late. The cat's out of the bloody bag."
Belphegor moved to leave the crypt.
Dean asked angrily "Where the hell you going?"
He didn't say anything.
Dean "Hey! Wh --"
Castiel followed him out " I got him."
Dean yelled " We're not just gonna give up. That's not who we are. Let's go out there and let's take care of --"
I gestured Dean to shut up before kneeling down to a traumatized Rowena.
Then i asked softly " Rowena. Hey. You okay? You need anything?"
She looked at me "A moment."
I nodded "of course"
-
I walked over to Dean and sat down next to him " Hey. What are you doing?"
Dean shook his head " I'm not gonna give up. That's what I'm doing. Not just gonna sit in this crypt and wait for the walls to come down."
Me " You heard Rowena."
Dean nodded" Yeah, I heard her, okay? Ghosts are gonna bust out, and they're gonna swallow this world. And you want to what, just relax? Take a knee? No. No, we're gonna end this, Elena. Like you said. We're gonna be free."
I nodded "I know, Dean, I-I just... This feels bigger than us. You know? And -- And I'm out of ideas, and... And I'm freaked, too."
Dean shook his head "Oh, I'm not freaked. I'm angry, okay? I'm pissed."
Me "At God."
He nodded.
I nodded "me too"
Dean " I mean, this whole mess, you know? This -- This sloppy-ass hostpocalypse -- that's Chuck's ending? No. No, I don't think so. After everything that he has put us through? I'll be damned if I'm gonna let some glorified fanboy get the last word."
I looked over to Rowena "right"
Then i walked over to her "Hey. Anything useful in there?"
she was looking through the book.
Rowena shook her head "Not a thing."
---
Sam asked confused " Wait, what do you mean, "Lilith's Crook"?"
Belphegor " Yeah, you know, one of those, uh... curvy-ended canes that shepherds use? Little Bo Peep?"
no one looked like they understood.
I rolled my eyes "it's more like a horn"
Belphegore "Exactly. Anyways, when Lilith began sending demons off to Earth to do her bidding, there was a little problem. I mean, yeah, she commended absolute loyalty in Hell, but there was no guarantee that once her minions were topside, that they wouldn't just take advantage of the situation. She needed to control her flock. So --"
Sam " So she forged the Crook."
Dean " Slash horn."
Belphegor "It could -- can retrieve all of Hell's lost creatures and bring them traight back home."
Cas "And why haven't we heard about this before?"
Belphegor shrugged " She never needed to use it. When she ruled, it was enough for us that we knew she could. And then when Crowley took over, he had other forms of discipline... Endless lines, endless paperwork. Not that he liked to spend a lot of time down there, anyway, with us."
Dean "Where is it?"
Belphegor "Last I heard, it was in Lilith's chamber, which has been sealed for ages."
Sam " Now that all the doors in Hell are open --"
Belphegor" It's just sitting there, ripe for the taking. I get the Crook, sound the Crook, and we suck all Hell's ghosts back into Hell. Then if the witch is feeling up to it..."
Rowena "I slam the door shut behind them."
Sam froze "Wait a second. How? With magic from the Book of the Damned?"
Rowena "A spell of my own devising. The Sanetur Acre Vulnus. A healing spell of a kind. If this gateway to Hell isn't a gate at all, but a wound, a rupture, I can use the spell to undo the damage Chuck did, and the hole will heal, close itself up. We'll have to time it perfectly. If -- If you're in Hell when all this goes down, how will we know when to start?"
Belphegor "Oh, trust me. You'll know."
Dean "What are you gonna need?"
Rowena shrugged "A -- A few ingredients, nothing too exotic -- lavender, myrrh, the skull of an owl, quiet to perform the spell, and an assistant. Dibs on Samuel."
Sam froze "Er, what? "
Rowena "You're as close to a seasoned witch as we've got in this lot. And I'll need someone out there by the rupture."
Castiel " Why?"
Rowena "I need to do the spell in the safety of the crypt, but we need someone close to the edge to serve as a fulcrum, a carrier. Well, to put it in, uh, American action movie terms, they'll be carrying a bomb, I light the fuse, they toss it in -- boom. Whoever does this, they'll be unprotected. No salt circles -- all manner of angry spirits right up in their grill."
Dean "Sounds like fun."
Belphegor raised his hand.
Rowena "Yes, Belphegor?"
Belphegore " Uh, who's coming with me? I'm sorry, but I'm not going down to Hell and getting past all those pissed off ghosts and demons that are maybe loitering down there, and sounding the Crook all by myself."
Sam "So you want company?"
Belphegor " I want protection."
He looked at Cas "Muscle."
Dean nodded "Yeah, Cas'll go."
Castiel looked stunned and hurt.
Dean "You've been to Hell before."
Castiel "Well, it sounds like I don't have a choice."
Belphegor looked at me.
I asked irritated "The hell are you looking at me for?"
Belphegor "you're joining us"
Dean shook his head "absolutely not"
Sam "why?"
Belphegor looked at me amused "i think Elena knows exactly why i want her with me"
I nodded, pissed off "fine, i am going"
Dean "no way. you just got out of there"
I looked at him "and i don't wanna go back there"
Dean "then don't go"
I shook my head "i don't have a choice, Dean. I am going"
He opened his mouth.
Me "you and i both know that you don't have any time to start an argument with me"
Dean closed his mouth.
--
Belphegor, Cas and i walked to the rupture.
Belphegore " You got a plan for after? Getting topside? Witch's spell goes right, the abyss will be sealing up quick."
Cass "I'll figure something out."
Belphegor " You know, your part in all this is, uh, pretty dangerous. I mean, you could die, get trapped in Hell. Your friends might never see you again. Funny, 'cause, uh, they didn't seem to think twice about it."
I looked at Cass softly "Cass-"
Belphogor "Come on. It's more fun when you fight back."
Castiel "How do we get down there?"
Belphegor "Eh, I don't know. I didn't see any stairs or anything, so I just figure that we --"
I kicked him in the bag and he fell down the rift.
Cass nodded "best thing you did all day"
I smirked "thanks. "
Then we jumped down the rift.
In Hell.
We were walking down the stairs to hell.
Castiel " It's awfully quiet down here."
Belphegore "Yeah. Too quiet. But i guess the presence of the former Queen intimidates them"
Cas asked confused "former Queen?"
I breathed out annoyed.
Belphegore pretended to be shocked "oh, wait, you didn't know? Miss Elena over here is- well, was sitting on the throne for nearly a year"
Cass looked at me shocked "what?"
I clenched my jaw "thanks, asshole"
Belphegore smiled "you are welcome"
I looked at Cass "Cass, when we get out, i promise, i will tell you everything but for now let's focus on closing the rift"
Cass nodded.
Belphegore looked around " Guess everyone took their shot and got out. Told you, I'm an oddball... I actually like it here."
Me "You knew Hell was nearly empty. Yet you needed protection, "muscle", for this?"
Belphegor "Okay, you got me. I wanted company. I wanted your company. What? Shouldn't we at least try and be friends? Sam and Dean, they seem to be coming around. I think I'm, uh, growing on them. You know, like a cancer."
I shook my head " You are not growing on anyone. We are just using you. "
Cass "Don't mistake that for caring about you, because I can assure you they don't."
Belphegore eyed him "Wow. You learn that the hard way? What is it, Cas, really? This, uh, seething animosity."
Cass " You're wearing Jack, who was like a son to me, like a coat. Every second in your presence is intolerable. It's an abomination. You're an abomination. Is this it?"
Belphegor nodded " Yep."
We stopped in front of a door.
There was cluttering coming from the other side.
Belphegor pushed a disgruntled Castiel forward. Angel blade in hand, Castiel opened the door.
--
We walked in and looked around.
There was a demon there.
Belphegor asked confused " Malfayan?"
Malfayan asked confused " Bel? Hey!"
Belphegor "Uh, what are you doing?"
Malfayan "What? Not like Lilith's coming back."
Castiel launched himself at Malfayan and put the angel blade at his throat.
Malfayan said shocked "Whoa, easy, man! Easy! "
He looked at Belphegor " What, are you working with angels now?"
Belphegor nodded "Yeah, he's a little on edge."
Castiel "Does he have the horn?"
Belphegor "No. But, uh... Ooh -- Dude. Is that the Haxon Ring?"
His face lit up.
I grabbed Cas' blade and killed Malfayan.
Belphagor asked annoyed " Really?"
Me "We came for one thing, and one thing only."
He nodded "right"
Castiel " I don't think your friend was the first demon to loot the place."
Belphegor " Eh, guess not. Good thing what we're after... "
He tapped on a box ".... is right here. I don't see a latch. What do you think of these markings?"
Castiel stepped closer and read the symbols " It's Enochian. "Oh-ah-kuh-ree-me ah-tay-loh-kuh-vah-veem noh-ruh." It's a song of praise. To Lucifer. They're verses. It's, uh... It's an incantation to open the box."
Belphegor "Smart. Lilith knew she was the only one down here who could read it. Good thing I brought you!"
Castiel "Fine."
Then he kneeled down to read it " Oh-rah-moh-tay-da-ah-boh-da tay-da-ba. Va-veem-noh-ruh lahp tee-ah toh-ruht-sool ohl-ah-oh. Toh-luh-ah ay-kuh-ree-me juh-uhz-hay oh-ruh-suh ee-yahd. Ah ee-yahd day toh-luh-hah-mee."
nothing happened.
me "It's not working"
Belphegor "Yeah. You know, uh, they're verses, Cas. I think they need to be sung."
Cas sighed before stating to sing the verse.
--
The box opened.
Belphegore " Oh, Cas, your voice... it's like, uh... like an angel."
I rolled my eyes annoyed.
Castiel grabbed the horn " Shut up."
Belphegor "Guess it's go time. You're gonna need a head start getting out of here."
Suddenly i got knocked back and everything went black.
--
I woke up in pain.
Ardat was on Belphegor's neck " Lilith's Crook? A solid play. But you on the throne? Never. Going. To. Happen."
Castiel attacked her and they fought.
He yelled " The horn!"
Ardat " You know he wants to rule Hell. It's all he's ever wanted. I've been watching him for centuries, bowing and scraping to Lilith and Crowley and Elena, all of them. Just waiting for his chance at the throne. And now you're gonna give it to him? Do you have any idea what he is?"
Belphegor stabbed her in the back with the angel blade"Wow. Blah, blah, blah... she always was a talker."
Me "Is it true?"
Belphegor "You should go, Elena, Cas."
I asked through gritted teeth "is it true?"
He shook his had " No!"
Then he chuckled " Okay, look, I don't want to rule Hell."
Castiel " Then what do you want?"
Belphegor " You should go."
He threw Cass out of the room"What do I want? I got what I want. This thing, it isn't just a leash... it's a siphon."
I asked confused "What does that mean?"
Belphegor "It means that all the ghosts and all the demons -- I'm gonna suck them all right back into me. The power of a kajillion souls. Lilith, Crowley... they are nothing. I'll be a God. Or, you know, close enough. Great timing, right? 'Cause, uh, heard there was a vacancy."
Castiel "So the chest, the Enochian -- you've been playing us all along."
Belphegor "I couldn't have done it without you."
I tried to attack him but he threw me out of the room as well.
Then he played the horn.
souls got sucked into the horn.
I wasn't able to move. Neither was Cass.
--
Cas was slowly able to move to Belphegore and tackled him.
Then he punched him over and over again .
Belphegor pleaded " Cas! Stop. Please. It's me... Jack."
Castiel froze for a second "Liar"
Then he put his palm on Jack's head and set him on fire.
I looked down in tears.
Cass moved back sobbing.
Back on Earth.
Me "Dean."
The rift was closing, well, i think it was. It was doing something.
Dean "Leny? Cas! What the hell happened?Where's Belphegor?"
Cas " I killed him."
Dean " You did what? Wh-What about the Crook?"
Cass "It's gone. It was destroyed."
Dean "What?!"
He yelled "Cas, this was our only shot. What the hell were you thinking?"
Cass sighed "Dean..."
Suddenly i saw Rowena with a wound in her stomach walking to us.
I asked confused "Rowena?"
Rowena walked to the rift, spirits still flocking to her.
she stood on the edge of the rupture, looks like all souls were inside her.
Then she turned to us "Goodbye, boys."
She let herself fall into the rift.
It closed and everything went silent.
at the bunker.
I walked over to Sam who was on his way to his room "Sammy?"
He turned to me "Yeah."
Me "They found Ketch. Dead."
Sam froze "He... What? How?"
I shrugged "Bad. Probably a demon."
He sighed.
Me " We did it, though, man. It's over. God threw one last apocalypse at us, and we beat it."
He nodded "Yeah."
Me "What you did... Rowena... You didn't have a choice."
He nodded, sighing "I know."
--
I walked past the control room but stopped when i saw Cass and Dean talking.
Dean " You're sorry? Why didn't you just stick to the damn plan?"
Castiel "Belphegor was lying."
Dean "Belphegor's a demon."
Castiel "He was using us. He wanted to eat every last soul to take over Hell, Earth, and every..."
Dean nodded "Yeah, and we would've figured it out... after. With Rowena."
Castiel "The plan changed, Dean. Something went wrong. You know this. Something always goes wrong."
Dean nodded, angrily "Yeah, why does that something always seem to be you?"
I sighed.
Castiel looked pretty hurt "You used to trust me, give me the benefit of the doubt. Now you can barely look at me. "
Dean looked away.
Castiel "My powers are failing, and -- and I've tried to talk to you, over and over, and you just don't want to hear it. You don't care. I'm... dead to you. You still blame me for Mary. You still blame me for what happened with Elena - the woman you love "
Dean nodded.
Castiel "Well, I don't think there's anything left to say."
He walked to the stairs.
Dean " Where you going?"
Castiel " Jack's dead. Chuck's gone. You, Elena and Sam have each other. I think it's time for me to move on."
Then he walked up the stairs.
I rushed upstairs and followed him out "Castiel"
Outside.
He turned to me "don't worry, i didn't tell him. It is not on me to tell him"
I nodded "i know but..don't blame yourself for what happened-"
Cass "but what happened with Jack-"
I shook my head "you knew, and you tried to protect him. in that moment i knew was losing control. I chose to stay by his side. I chose to not run away to safety. I chose to try and help him. I made every single one of those decisions. You are the last one to blame for what happened to me. "
Cass "but Dean-"
Me "he's angry. you know how he is when he's angry- and that anger mixed with pain is not a very good combination. give him time"
He looked down.
Then i hugged him.
He froze but then hugged back a little.
Me "you didn't fail me, Cass. I know you think you did. but you didn't. You never did. don't let anyone make you believe otherwise, okay? you. did. not. fail. me."
He nodded.