Castiel’s P.O.V Damien’s chambers always had a suffocating air to them. Maybe it was the heavy drapes that blocked out the sunlight or the low-burning fire casting shadows that danced like predators on the walls. As I stepped inside, summoned like some loyal lapdog, I found him already waiting. He was seated in his usual chair, his posture straight and commanding, as if the entire world bent to his will. And maybe it did."You’re late," he said, his voice calm but carrying that unmistakable edge of irritation."Sorry," I mumbled, closing the door behind me. My heart was still heavy after seeing my sister off safely, but there was no room to show weakness here. Not with Damien.The calming aura had disappeared from around him and his scent was stronger now, harsher, as if it was attuned to his every mood. It put me on edge as to what was to come next.He gestured for me to sit, but the way his eyes locked on mine told me this
Castiel’s P.O.V “What are you talking about?” I asked, my voice betraying the confusion and frustration swirling inside me. “How can I have powers I don’t even know about? How did you find out before I did?”Damien crossed his arms, leaning casually against the edge of the desk like we were discussing the weather. His calm demeanor only added to my frustration. “Because you’ve always had them, Castiel. You just didn’t know it. You’ve lived your entire life unaware of what you’re capable of because no one ever showed you how to use it.”I shook my head, my mind racing. “That doesn’t make sense. If I had powers, wouldn’t I have felt something? Wouldn’t I have noticed?”Damien’s smirk returned, the one that always made me feel like a naive child being lectured by an all-knowing teacher. “Not necessarily. Your powers aren’t
Castiel’s P.O.V The morning air was sharp, the kind of cold that bit into your skin and woke you up faster than any coffee could. I stood in the training yard, my breath visible in the chill. Normally, Stephan would be here, barking out instructions while I begrudgingly followed. But not today.Today, Damien stood across from me, his imposing figure casting a long shadow over the frost-dappled ground.Damien didn’t bother with pleasantries. “Warm up,” he said curtly, folding his arms. His tone made it clear that he wasn’t in the mood for excuses or delays.I started the usual routine—push-ups, lunges, sprints across the yard—trying to shake off the unease sitting heavy in my chest. I’d spent the entire night replaying our conversation, Damien’s words about my powers looping in my head like a broken record. A Catalyst. Someone who could amplify or suppress powers. It still didn’t
Damien’s P.O.V The room felt colder than usual, the harsh lights bouncing off the polished floors. My arms were crossed, my expression neutral, as I watched Felix move with the precision of a predator, his strikes sharp and relentless.Castiel, on the other hand, looked like a cornered animal, smaller, weaker, barely keeping himself upright. He had speed, I’d give him that, darting away just in time to avoid the brunt of Felix’s punches, but it wasn’t enough. Not by a long shot.“Move faster,” I muttered under my breath, though I knew he couldn’t hear me.Felix lunged, his fist grazing Castiel’s side as he twisted at the last second. Castiel stumbled but stayed on his feet, his chest heaving. His small victories were short-lived, though, as Felix immediately swung again, this time landing a solid hit to Castiel’s shoulder that sent him sprawling to the ground. He scrambled to his feet
Damien’s P.O.V “What the hell?” Felix hissed, stepping back, his face twisted in confusion.I could feel the tension crackling in the air, heavy and electric. Felix was staring at Castiel as if he had just grown two heads. He had just thrown a punch—one of those brutal, bone-crushing punches that should have broken anyone in half. But Castiel was standing there, barely even moving, his hand gripping Felix’s fist with such ease it was almost laughable.Felix’s breath hitched as he took a step back, his confusion growing. “What the hell?” he muttered, glancing between his hand and Castiel’s unyielding grip. “That punch should’ve shattered your ribs. You shouldn’t be standing right now.”I didn’t know what had just happened, but I could see the shift in Castiel. He was different—no longer the scared boy who had stumbled into this world. He was standing
Damien’s P.O.V I carried Castiel into my room, his limp body weighing heavier on my arms than it should. His pale face, usually so composed, was marred by bruises that twisted my stomach in knots. I tried to ignore the blood that streaked his temple and the small cuts on his hands. Anger simmered low in my chest, threatening to boil over.I should’ve intervened sooner. It was partially my fault that Felix had managed to go this far.Gently, I laid him down on the black comforter of my bed, its soft fabric a stark contrast to the violence that had been done to him. His breaths were shallow, but they were steady, and that gave me a sliver of hope.“Dr. Andrea,” I called, my voice clipped and commanding as I grabbed the intercom on my desk. “Get to my room. Now.”Her response came immediately, calm and professional. “On my way.”I sat down on a chair by the bed, my eyes fixed on
Castiel’s P.O.V I woke up with a gasp, my chest rising sharply as I clawed my way out of sleep. For a split second, I braced myself for the pain I knew should’ve been there—the sharp, gnawing ache that had burrowed into my ribs and spread through my entire body before I’d passed out. But it wasn’t. The pain wasn’t there. I blinked, sitting up gingerly, half expecting my body to rebel at the movement. Nothing.There was a faint soreness in my side, a tightness that felt more like the memory of pain than the real thing, but otherwise… nothing. I glanced down, pulling at the hem of my shirt to see the bruises I knew should’ve still been there. But they were almost completely gone, reduced to faint shadows on my skin. What the hell? How…?I swung my legs off the bed, my feet hitting the floor softly. It was only then that I noticed the room. This wasn’t my room. The furniture was too refined, the sheets too crisp, and the scent in the air—clean, with a hint of cedar—was all too famil
Castiel’s P.O.V Did I…did I just hear him right?‘But your room…doesn’t have me.’Fuck!I swallowed my saliva audibly, my eyes wide and still fixated on Damien’s perfect form. I couldn’t help the way my body reacted to that statement…to him.“Dam—”He tilted his head slightly, his expression unreadable. “You’re injured. You still need to rest.”I frowned, the confusion warring with something deeper, something I didn’t want to name. “And since when do you care about whether I rest or not?”Damien’s jaw tightened, but instead of snapping at me like I expected, he stepped closer. The heat of his presence was almost tangible now, and it took everything in me not to retreat, or worse…reach out to touch him.“Since you pushed yourself to the brink,” he said, his voice low, almost a growl. “You mastered your power, Castiel. That wasn’t easy, but you made it through. But it took a lot from you.”The words caught me off guard, stealing the air from my lungs. Praise? From Damien? It was rare, l
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