Castiel’s P.O.V
The soft flicker of chandelier lights cast long shadows down the grand staircase, making the mansion's intricate woodwork look almost ghostly. I stood by Damien, keeping my eyes pried open at all times. Stephan’s earlier words were a reminder that we had enemies everywhere.
I could feel the tension in my shoulders as I adjusted my grip on the railing, eyes scanning the room below us. We had been warned—tonight wasn’t just a welcome party. It was a trap, a game of deception and power.
Stephan was a few steps ahead, his usually relaxed posture rigid tonight, like the weight of the world had settled on him. Damien was in front of us, leading the way with his usual calm, cold confidence. But I could sense something off about him tonight, a flicker of concern that I hadn't seen before.
“Keep your eyes peeled, Cas,” Damien said, his voice low, meant only for me. “You remember what I ask
Castiel’s P.O.V The moment Reed’s back turned, I felt Damien’s hand close around my arm, fingers digging into the flesh. I flinched, my muscles tensing under the pressure, and I can’t help but wince. His grip is painful, like iron, and it only tightens as he yanks me closer."How do you know Reed?" he growls, his voice a low whisper that doesn’t reach Reed, but I can hear the menace in it. He’s not just curious. He’s angry. I swallow hard, trying to steady my breath. His eyes lock onto mine with a dangerous intensity, like he’s searching for a lie."I—I met him today," I say, my voice sounding weaker than I want it to. "In the hallway. I came out of your room, and I... I got lost trying to find my way to mine."Damien's eyes narrow, and I can feel his fingers digging deeper into my arm. The pain stings, but I grit my teeth, refusing to show any more weakness. "He was outside our room,
Castiel’s P.O.V The unease had been simmering in my gut since the moment I sat in between Reed and Damien at the dinner table. But when I felt his leg on mine, I couldn’t help but shift uncomfortably, trying to put as much distance between us as the space would allow.Reed moved his foot away, but something about the way he looked at me, like he was sizing me up, made my skin crawl.I tried to focus on the meal, cutting small pieces of roast chicken and pushing them around my plate, but every time I looked up, Reed was staring, a faint smirk tugging at his lips.Tonight, I had thought that it would be just a casual dinner with the bosses discussing business with none of us ‘side-kicks’ having anything to do with them, but the idea of sharing a table with them was unfamiliar and oppressive. The atmosphere was thick with uncertainty, Reed’s presence throwing everything off balance."Not hungry, Castiel?"
Castiel’s P.O.V I don’t remember how I found my way to the gardens; one minute I was roaming the endless deserted hallways, and the next, I was here. The Panther Syndicate’s estate might have been a gilded cage, but the gardens were illuminated by a golden glow, making it look almost ethereal.The only sounds came from the gentle rustle of leaves in the wind and the soft trickle of water from the fountain at the center. I walked slowly along the stone path, hands buried in my pockets, as I tried to steady the storm inside me. Here, surrounded by neatly trimmed hedges and vibrant flowers, I could finally breathe.My chest ached, a tight, burning sensation that wouldn’t go away no matter how much air I dragged in. Damien’s words from earlier echoed in my head, cruel and cutting as usual. He didn’t even have to raise his voice to hurt me; his cold tone did all the work. And yet, the pain wasn’t just from t
Castiel’s P.O.V “What the hell are you talking about?”“I’m talking about you, developing something for Damien,” Stephan rolled his eyes. “Let’s not beat around the bush, kid. We both know what’s happening, and if you take my advice, it’s better to stop that right here and now.”My mind was tangled in knots, trying to piece together fragments of a puzzle that felt like it would never fit together.I tried to think about what Stephan was telling me, really listen to his words and try to keep my feelings aside.Damien. The enigma. The man who had imprisoned me, and yet managed to saved me at the same time, kept himself locked behind a wall of silence and steel.Stephan stood beside me, his gaze fixed on the horizon, with a posture that mirrored my own. He had been Damien's confidant long before I entered their world—a link to the past that seemed to h
Castiel’s P.O.V The morning light poured through the thin curtains, nudging me awake. I blinked at the unfamiliar ceiling, taking a moment to remember where I was. It didn’t take long for last night’s events to rush back into my mind.Groaning, I sat up, ruffling my hair as if that would wipe away the memory. Negotiations. Reed and Damien. As long as that wasn’t done, we’d be stuck here for god knows how long.I swung my legs off the bed and stretched, my muscles stiff from tossing and turning all night.A soft knock interrupted my thoughts.“Come in,” I called out, already knowing it would be Stephan. He had a knack for timing.He stepped in, his face bright and eager. “Good news. The deal’s done. We’re heading out this afternoon.”I blinked at him. “Wait, what? When did that happen? I thought we were supposed to stay another day.”
Castiel’s P.O.V The car’s engine hummed steadily as we cruised down the road, the scent of leather and faint cologne hanging thick in the air. I leaned back in my seat, turning my head to Damien, who sat beside me. He hadn’t said much since we’d left the estate, but that wasn’t unusual for him. Damien only spoke when he had something worth saying.“Did you manage to do it?” His voice broke the silence, smooth but firm, cutting through the dull sound of tires against asphalt. He didn’t look at me when he asked, but I could feel the tension in the car.I nodded slowly. “Yeah, I did.”“And?” His brow twitched, his tone shifting to something more curious. “What did you sense?”I hesitated. How could I even begin to explain what I felt back there? It wasn’t something you could j
Castiel’s P.O.V The car swerved violently, throwing me against the door as it careened down the winding road. My heart leaped to my throat when we narrowly missed a speeding SUV coming from the opposite direction, the headlights blinding for a split second before we were past. The screech of tires echoed in my ears, my pulse hammering so loudly I could barely hear my ragged breathing.“Dammit!” Stephan cursed from the front seat as he gripped the steering to steady himself, but the car was no longer under manual control. “This thing’s out of control!”The vehicle didn’t slow, weaving dangerously between lanes as if it had a mind of its own. My hands clawed at the door handle, uselessly trying to pry it open, but it was locked tight. Trapped. We were completely trapped in this mechanical death trap, and there wasn’t a damn thing we could do about it.
Damien’s P.O.V The oppressive heat inside the car pressed down on me like a suffocating blanket, but I forced myself to focus. I couldn’t afford to lose control now. My palm pressed flat against the cold metal of the car door, and I concentrated on summoning my power. The familiar sensation of heat started to build in my chest, a flicker of red flames curling behind my closed eyes. It wasn’t enough yet. I needed more, and I needed it fast.Reed’s power was all over the car, threading through every electrical circuit like a silent predator. I could feel it, sharp and invasive, a cold blue light that clashed violently with the warmth of my energy. Every time I pushed, he pushed back harder, the sparks of his power zapping across my connection like static shocks. My jaw tightened, my teeth grinding together as I summoned everything I had."Damien, what are you doing?" Castiel’
Castiel’s P.O.VThe sand beneath our feet was cool and soft, the faint sound of waves crashing against the shore acting as a gentle, constant backdrop to the heavy silence between us. I walked beside Celia, my hand resting lightly on her shoulder, guiding her away from the crowded beach and toward a quieter, more isolated stretch of sand. Her eyes were still red, tears streaking her face, and my heart felt like it was breaking with every shaky breath she took. I had expected a lot of things today—anger, confusion, maybe even guilt. But hearing her words had left me completely lost, speechless.She had told me, in no uncertain terms, that I had ruined her life. That I had taken everything from her. And the worst part was that I couldn’t deny it. I could feel the sting of her words echoing in my chest, each one digging deeper into a wound I didn’t even realize I had opened.We stopped by a large rock near the sh
Castiel’s P.O.VThe smell of grilled fish filled the air, mingling with the salty breeze drifting in from the ocean just a few blocks away. The restaurant was small and cozy, the kind of place where everyone knew each other, where the regulars came in every afternoon to talk about their day over a plate of fresh seafood. It was peaceful. It was steady. And for the first time in a long time, I felt like I could breathe again.I wiped my hands on my apron as I stepped out from behind the counter, balancing two plates in my hands. The customers at table five grinned as I set their food down, exchanging pleasantries as I smiled back. It wasn’t much, this life I had built in the past week, but it was enough to keep me standing. Enough to keep me from drowning in the weight of everything I had lost.South Beach, Staten Islands, wasn’t all that far from New York, but still, it felt like a fresh start. All thanks to Tanner,
Damien’s P.O.V He looked like a shell of the man he once was—ripped apart by the people he had crossed, the plans he had made, and the lies he had lived. And yet, in the midst of his suffering, he still managed to speak with a biting edge, like he was trying to get under my skin even now."I am a fool, Damien," Gabriel rasped, his voice dripping with bitter truth. “A complete fool.”I paused, gripping him tighter as he tried to stand on his own. “What the hell are you talking about?” I asked, my patience wearing thin again. I didn’t have time for cryptic bullshit.Gabriel’s lips curled into a pained grin, though it was more of a grimace than a smile. He was clearly struggling, but the words that came next hit me harder than I expected.“I’ve been a fool to love him. To care for Elijah all this time,” Gabriel continued, his voice thick with something like disdain, but also a hint of pity. “He’s been using me, Damien. All this time, he’s been using me for my abilities.”The words hit m
Damien’s P.O.VI stand by the large glass window in my room, staring out at the garden. The trees sway gently in the wind, their leaves rustling in a way that should be calming, but it only seems to make my thoughts more chaotic. The faint glow of streetlights beyond the garden casts an eerie light on everything, but I hardly notice. All I can think about is Castiel. Where the hell is he?Two days. It’s been two days since I last saw him. Two days since he drove off in my car, taking his sister Celia with him. The thought gnawed at me like a constant ache in my chest.I’ve asked myself a hundred times why he did it. Why take Celia? Why disappear like this? Castiel, the one person who seemed to understand me, the one person I allowed myself to trust—gone.Stephan had asked me if he wanted to spread a red alert, to have all our resources search for Castiel. It was one of the surest ways to find him. But it wasn’t the right one.I didn’t want anyone else involved in this. I didn’t want t
Castiel’s P.O.VThe sunlight creeps through the small crack in the curtains, casting a soft, golden glow on the walls of the room. It’s the kind of light that should make everything feel warm, but all I can feel is a cold numbness spreading through my veins.My body refuses to move. I haven’t slept, not really. My eyes are swollen from crying, the aftermath of an emotional storm that seemed never-ending. My head feels heavy like it’s been filled with too much noise and not enough peace. But despite everything, there’s a numbness that blankets me, a fog that makes it hard to distinguish between the past few hours and the haze of my own mind.I turn my head to stare at the cracked walls above me, willing them to hold some kind of answer. Anything that could make this pain stop. But nothing comes.I’ve cried enough. The tears, the sobs, the silent misery that rattled through me all night, hidde
Damien’s P.O.VI stared at the ring for what felt like an eternity, my grip tightening around it, the cold metal digging into my palm. It was supposed to mean something more than this. I had chosen it for him, picked it out with the hope that it would be a sign—a symbol of the good he had brought into my life, a representation of everything I’d never been able to express to him in words. Instead, I had handed it to him carelessly, like it was just a trinket, a piece of jewelry meant to impress, not something that held the weight of my feelings.I remembered the ride back from the carnival, the happiest day of my life. Castiel had been telling me how the carnival only held things for children and he hadn't been able to buy anything to bring back for Stephan.That’s when I had handed the box to him…casually tossing it as if it was just another souvenir. I had been nervous, I had been anxious for his reaction…but now, all those felt like petty excuses.I let out a sharp breath, frustrati
Damien’s P.O.VThe car ride back to the mansion felt like an eternity. Every second dragged on, and every thought in my head twisted tighter, more suffocating. I couldn’t stop thinking about Castiel—how I’d failed him, how I’d let everything slip through my fingers. The guilt weighed heavy, and the more I thought about it, the worse it became.Stephan sat beside me, unusually quiet. I could feel his eyes on me from time to time, but I didn’t want to meet his gaze. I didn’t deserve to. Not after what had happened.But I couldn’t stand the silence any longer. The sound of my own thoughts was starting to suffocate me, so I finally turned to Stefan.“What…what was he like?” I asked, my voice hoarse. “Castiel, I mean. When you met him.”Stephan shifted slightly in his seat, staring out the window. “He was broken,” he said quietly, not meeting my gaze. “I’ve never seen anyone so shattered. Whatever he saw or heard inside that venue... it affected him so deeply. He could barely keep himself
Damien’s P.O.VI stood there, my mind reeling, as Stephan’s words settled in like heavy stones sinking to the bottom of a river. *It’s too late.* Those words hit me harder than I cared to admit. But I couldn’t let it end this way. Not like this. Not after everything Castiel and I had been through.I clenched my fists, trying to control the seething rage inside me. “You’re wrong,” I muttered, but even I wasn’t sure I believed myself. “I know I screwed up. I know I walked right into Gabriel’s trap like an idiot, but I never expected him to go after Castiel. He used me. He manipulated me, Stephan. I didn’t know.”Stephan didn’t respond right away. He just stared at me, his expression unreadable. I could feel the weight of his judgment, though. I hated it, but I couldn’t blame him. I had messed up. Big time.I ran my hand through my hair, pacing back and forth
Elijah’s P.O.VI could hear the soft hum of Gabriel’s tune as I stepped into the washroom, the sound carefree, almost too happy for the tense atmosphere of the night. The light above flickered slightly, casting an eerie glow across the walls, but Gabriel was too absorbed in his own little world to notice my presence.He was standing in front of the mirror, washing his face and fixing his hair with the kind of meticulous care that only someone like him could afford. His movements were slow, almost exaggerated as if the world had no urgency, no consequence, not even with everything going to hell outside this room.I watched him for a moment, my smirk forming naturally. The contrast between his happy demeanor and the mess we were all tangled in amused me, though it also intrigued me. What was it that could make Gabriel this happy, when everything else seemed to be crumbling?I stepped forward and closed the door behind me with a