Chapter Text
BREAKING NEWS: FAMOUS SINGER KENDALL KNIGHT MAULED BY WILD ANIMAL
At 9 A.M on February 12th, Kendall Knight was found dead in his apartment by his wife, Jo Taylor-Knight, reportedly having been mauled by a wild animal in his bed. Reports state his time of death at midnight the previous day, but the timing of Knight's death and his wife's business meeting was commented to be suspicious. Did Jo Taylor-Knight murder her husband? Police reports state her innocence, but as the only other person with the key to his apartment and with the door being locked, what really happened?
* * *
Katie Knight snarled at the news report, tears springing to her eyes. From the moment she learned of the supernatural world, she'd known that something was wrong with her brother. The way his smile was almost vacant and the way he gave in to Jo's every demand. Her suspicions only deepened when they crossed paths with a ghost at a Big Time Rush concert, only to be saved by a hunter. Unfortunately, there were a lot of creatures that could make someone obedient, and despite Katie's attempts to break the spell, nothing worked. Logan had driven himself almost to madness trying to fix everything, and James and Carlos had been so close to just killing Jo. It was Lucy who nearly ended up in jail after she punched Jo. And then Jo got Kendall to break off all contact with them, and suddenly Katie was helpless.
Well, she wasn't helpless anymore. She knew what creature had spelled and killed her brother; she knew exactly who to kill, and their family was sure to agree.
* * *
He didn't know why he'd never taken up the blade, why he'd never given in to his torturers. All he knew was that when given the choice, something always dragged him back from the brink. It was the shade of his blood painted everywhere, reminding him of a flash of hair. It was chocolate brown eyes that he never forgot despite forgetting everything else. He didn't even know his name, and yet a single pair of eyes kept him sane.
So when the demon dragged the blade through him and laughed at his screams, he held on. When they taunted him, telling him that nobody cared about him enough to rescue him. When they ripped beneath his skin and pulled his pumping heart from his chest, he never forgot a pair of chocolate eyes he loved more than himself.
* * *
Men make plans, and God laughs.
The bloodline of Cain was numerous, and the bloodline of Abel was just as big. And yet, the number of families that were part of both bloodlines numbered in only the double digits. Narrow that down after the number that died at the hands of demons, and cross out the ones that heaven kept an eye on, and you have only one bloodline.
When Dean Winchester broke under the strain of Hell, both Heaven and Hell rejoiced. When Sam Winchester killed Lilith, they waited with bated breath for the end of days to come. The thing is, the first seal referred to the righteous man, not a righteous man. It couldn't be just anyone to break the first seal; it couldn't be just anyone of Abel's line to be the Righteous man, the Michael Sword. Heaven got a little too cocky, Hell a little too eager, and the moment Lilith died and the Cage stayed closed, Heaven and Hell roared in fury.
Deep under the earth and far below the heavens, the remains of a lone soul glowing with an inner light shone like the sun. And God laughed.
* * *
Dean Winchester paced around Bobby's house in frustration as Sam watched on guiltily.
"I don't get it, you killed Lilith," Dean scowled, "not that I'm complaining, but it makes no sense," he grimaced.
"How is the Devil still locked away if that was the last seal?" Dean frowned.
"Either they lied, or someone somewhere screwed up," Bobby replied bluntly.
"It wasn't a lie," the exhausted voice of Castiel piped up as he appeared in the house.
"Damn it, Cas!" Dean yelped.
"If it wasn't a lie, then who screwed over heaven?" Bobby demanded.
"Nobody," Castiel scowled.
"Then why isn't the Devil free?" Sam piped up timidly.
"We misinterpreted the prophecy," Castiel admitted.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Dean frowned.
"And it is written that the first seal shall be broken when a righteous man sheds blood in Hell. As he breaks, so shall it break," he quoted.
"We translated that after God vanished," he began, "Only it wasn't a Righteous Man, it was The Righteous man, and in our relish to begin the apocalypse, we only ensured it would fail," Castiel concluded.
"This is good; the apocalypse is canceled, this is great!" Dean grinned.
"So why do I get the feeling that it isn't as simple as that," Bobby grumbled as he eyed Castiel shrewdly.
"Lilith is dead; it's not like they can kill her again, right!?" Dean protested.
"No, the First Demon is dead," Castiel agreed, "but they think there's another way to open Lucifer's cage," he told them grimly.
"Damn it!" Dean swore.
"What's their plan, and how do we stop it?" Bobby demanded.
"Heaven wants the Four Horseman of the Apocalypse and the Righteous Man, they think the power of the Horseman and the sacrifice of the Righteous Man will open the cage," Castiel grimaced.
"And will it?" Sam questioned softly. Castiel hesitated before nodding reluctantly.
"Theoretically, the power of the Four Horseman can close the cage, and the Righteous Man is the first seal, so the combination should be able to open the cage and free Lucifer," he explained.
"So we need to find them first," Sam suggested.
"That's going to be a little difficult. It's not like we can google The Righteous Man and hope for the best," Dean sassed.
"The Righteous Man is traditionally thought to be from the bloodline of Cain and Abel," Castiel interjected helpfully.
"And how the hell are we supposed to find a descendant of bloodlines from millions of years ago," Bobby questioned skeptically.
"Well, how did you find us?" Sam prompted Castiel.
"The Tree of Good and Evil," Castiel said slowly, "It's said that the tree will reveal any descendants of Adam and Eve's firstborn," he grimaced.
"And where is this tree?" Dean asked determinedly.
"It's hidden behind powerful wards within the Grand Canyon," Castiel revealed, "Only a human of Abel and Cain's line can pass the wards," He concluded.
"And according to heaven, we're from Cain and Abel's line," Dean grinned triumphantly.
"It's a trap," Castiel objected, "Heaven will be waiting for you to open the way through."
"We might need some help," Sam grimaced in agreement.
"I know some hunters I can call," Bobby offered. They exchanged looks of grim determination before they began to prepare