A Nephilim in Need

As they continued down the highway, Dean and Sam exchanged curious looks. Finally, when it was apparent that Castiel wasn’t going to start talking, Dean barked, “So?”

Cass sat forward, the better to be heard over the roaring engine. “Oh. Yes. So the girl is actually a Nephilim named Shylo and she is the last ingredient needed in a ritual to create an ultimate vessel that will allow Lucifer to return to Earth and utterly destroy it.” The car slalomed sideways as Dean jerked the wheel in response to Castiel’s concise and completely unexpected answer. As he struggled to get the car back under control Sam spun around in his seat to stare at Cass. “Do you want to go over that again? Maybe with a little more detail?”

Castiel sighed but his dark blue eyes were intense when they met Dean’s again in the mirror.

“Shylo is the daughter of a human mother and an angel father. It is forbidden but obviously possible. Unfortunately, her mother is not just any human, but a powerful witch and her power was inherited by the girl. She was kept hidden and safe, so we thought, with secret identities and continual relocation.” “Like Angel Witness Protection.” Dean interjected with a grin, his focus back on Cass as they flew down the highway. “Umm, yes, I guess.” Cass responded, then with a frown at Dean, continued on. “Anyways, the girl has been a point of contention since her birth. Many of the angels believe that she is too dangerous to be allowed to live. The rest of us believe that she shouldn’t be killed simply because of her lineage. She is innocent of any crime and -as far as we know- has done nothing to harm anyone or anything. But then Azraziel, a demon of immense power, enlisted the aid of Rovena, an equally terrifying witch, and together they were able to find the girl. She was kidnapped several years ago and we have been searching for her ever since.”

Sam said, “Years? And you think she’s still alive? If that’s the case, why hasn’t this vessel ritual already been performed?”

“We believed that she was still alive but now we have proof. The ritual is extremely complicated and it’s taken this long for them to gather the ingredients and make all the necessary preparations. For the final steps they had to surface enough that we could feel the energy of what they are doing. That energy is what I’m following now to find them. With the levels I’m feeling they must be nearly finished.”

Sam took the lead again, letting Dean focus as, picking up on the urgency, he pushed his foot to the floor and Baby hurtled down the highway at triple digits. “So what, exactly, is this ritual?”

Cass paused, seeming to search for words, or deciding how much to say.

“Look, Cass, you said Jump, all we’re asking is how high. You owe us that much.” Dean growled at him.

Cass seemed to nod to himself, “Alright. That is fair. The ritual draws power from, well, pretty much everything, and creates a perfect vessel. You know how much trouble Lucifer had with his last vessel. That much power cannot be contained by just anyone. And this vessel is not only strong enough to hold him, but will amplify his power and strength. It will make him completely unstoppable.” With these ominous words the car fell silent, the engine screaming even louder as Dean pulled every ounce of speed out of her.