Men of Letters Bunker, Lebanon, Kansas

Two Weeks Later....

Cassandra and Sam sat in the kitchen surrounded by books and a thick silence. Finally, after half an hour, Sam looked up. "Still planning on taking over Heaven and Hell?" he asked.

Cassandra nodded, never looking up from the book. "Yep," she replied, popping the 'p'. She licked her lips and turned the page, only glancing up when Dean entered. She grinned and propped her chin up on her knuckles. "Good morning."

Dean simply ignored her and picked up the coffee pot, turning it upside down over the empty mug when nothing came out. "We're out," Sam told him, never looking up.

"There was a half a bag yesterday!" Dean exclaimed, picking up the empty coffee bag.

"I killed it."

He threw the bag up in the air in disbelief.

"Hey, did you know the Nazis had a special branch devoted to archaeology?" Sam asked.

"Little early for Nazi trivia, especially without caffeine," Dean grunted as his gaze skimmed over the shelves before he made his way to the fridge and pulled it open. Cassandra watched in amusement as he grabbed a bottle of milk and opened it, recoiling at the smell after sniffing it.

"It's called the 'Ahnenerbe'," Sam continued, ignoring his brother's pissy mood. "There were sites all over Germany, and then as the Nazis increased their territory, they started popping in Poland, Finland, uh, North Africa—

"Yeah, how is this more important than our coffee situation?" Dean snapped.

"'Cause I found something. I mean, we need something. Magic. A weapon strong enough to give us a shot against Amara. So, I've been looking outside the lore in history. And I found this: the Vichy Memorandems..."

Cassandra zoned out, distracted by her buzzing phone. She quickly excused herself and snatched it from the table, quickly rushing out into the hall as she answered it and brought it to her ear. "What?" she hissed quietly, glancing over her shoulder towards the kitchen to make sure that neither Hunter was coming.

"This is boring," Lucifer whined.

The Nephilim rolled her eyes. "You're calling me because you're bored? What if one of the boys answered my phone?"

Lucifer cleared his throat. "Hello, Dean. Is Cassandra there? I'd like to speak with her about her powers. I think I found something," he said in a monotone, gruff voice. There was a chuckle from the other line. "Simple."

"What could I possibly do to cure your boredom? I'm kind of busy right now. Y'know, looking for ways to stop Amara and such," Cassandra snapped.

"Come to Hell."

"Excuse me? Are you fucking crazy? I don't want to step within a hundred miles of a Gate of Hell, and if it's never then that's too soon," the blonde told her uncle.

Lucifer sighed. "Pretty please? I'm bored. Besides, I run things now. Nothing will happen. I can help you with your PTSD." He smacked his lips together. "I'll tell you what. If you come down to Hell, I'll cure you of your memories. I know they've taken a toll on you and we can't exactly have you weak. Whatdya say, Blondie? Take the highway to Hell for me? Just for a bit."

Cassandra sighed and rolled her bottom lip between her teeth in thought. She rolled her eyes and nodded. "Alright, fine. Give me a bit."

"Yay!"

She rolled her dull green eyes again and hung up, pocketing her phone. She quickly raced back in the kitchen and poked her head through the doorway. "Hey, I'm gonna run to the store and pick up some more groceries, coffee and milk included. Text me if you need anything." Cassandra disappeared before Sam or Dean could reply.

Cassandra grunted as she ran smack into a wall, scowling and pushing herself back to her feet. "Damn portals," she grumbled, wandering the halls before coming across the grand double doors to the throne room. She could hear muffled voices from inside and she smirked, flicking her wrist. The doors swung open and every suit-clad demon spun around to see who was interrupting the status reports.

Gasps arose and a few demons exchanged hushed murmurs as she stared straight ahead at Lucifer.

"This better be good," Cassandra greeted. She started to walk towards the throne when the demons formed a wall in front of her, narrowing their eyes into a glare. Cassandra stared at them with an amused smile and laughed. "Relax. I'm no enemy. I was summoned."

"Since when does Lucifer conspire with the daughter of Michael?" one demon asked.

Another held up their hand. "I thought she was still in the Cage."

"Isn't she screwing one of the Winchesters?" another chimed in.

Lucifer rolled his eyes at the demons. Cassandra had also had enough of their gossip because with a single thought they were all sent flying to the side, creating a pathway to the throne.

"If I were you, I wouldn't start talking shit just yet," Cassandra said.

"Yes," Lucifer agreed, grinning, leaning back in his throne. "You're talking about your future queen of both Heaven and Hell."

The demons all exchanged wide eyed glanced. Cassandra walked straight past them, stopping abruptly when she heard a few muffled cries. Her blood red lips curled into a smirk and she turned her head to see Crowley on his hands and knees, stuffed inside a cage.

The Nephilim laughed. "You really weren't kidding when you said you made Crowley your bitch," Cassandra told Lucifer.

He smirked and shook his head. "Do I ever lie to you, my niece?"

Cassandra grinned at the Devil before making her way towards the cage. "Open it," she commanded.

The demons exchanged glances before looking to Lucifer who nodded in confirmation.

The gate rose and the bottom slid out. A demon leaned forward and pulled the gag from Crowley's mouth letting him speak. Cassandra crouched down in front of the former King of Hell. "Sam and Dean told me that you had taken over Hell, but here we are." She sighed contentedly. "This is great."

"Since when do you conspire with Lucifer?" Crowley inquired. "Angels don't team up with beings of Hell."

"Lucifer isn't a demon. In case you've forgotten, he's an archangel who simply fell. And I'm not just an angel, remember? I'm still half human." Cassandra reached forward and scratched behind Crowley's ear tauntingly. "What happened to the big bad King of Crossroads that I knew?" She leaned forward, her face only inches from Crowley's. She ran her fingers along his jawline. "Not so mighty now, huh, doggy?"

"Look who's talking," Crowley spat. "Does you boyfriend know about this?"

Cassandra pulled her hand away and laughed. "Of course not. I'm still the broken little princess to him." She stood up. "I'm not here for you. I have matters of bigger importance." She turned on her heel and made her way back to Lucifer but stopped, turning to face the demons. "All of you leave. I need a moment alone with my uncle."

No demon made a move.

"Now!" Cassandra roared, her voice echoing throughout the throne room.

All of the demons scurried off, including the ones that guarded Crowley.

Cassandra sported a pleased smirk and turned back to Lucifer who watched her with what seemed to be proud eyes. "Sam and I have made a breakthrough. He and Dean are currently researching it, but we believe we found a way that could help us stop Amara."

Lucifer grinned and leaned forward. "I'm listening."

"Back in World War Two, there was a Woman of Letters. She was sent on a mission to receive some precious artifact. Anyways, it's a Hand of God. I'm sure you know what those are."

He nodded. "I do."

"Well, they're locating it now, but if we find this then we could use it. What better to help us than a touch of God Himself? An archangel, the daughter of Michael, and a Hand of God along with any forces from Hell and maybe even Heaven that we could round up just may be enough to stop the bitch."

Lucifer leaned back in his throne, a smirk of accomplishment resting on his lips. "And suddenly I'm no longer bored."

Within hours, Cassandra and Lucifer found themselves standing in the Bunker playing their roles as the broken warrior princess and Castiel. Cassandra had simply sat in the throne as the demons delivered all of Lucifer's weaponry to the room they currently resided in, and later watching in amusement as he and Crowley conversed. She enjoyed seeing the former King of Hell so helpless, so vulnerable. She was almost jealous that she hadn't come up with the idea herself. Almost.

Now, Sam, Dean, Cassandra, and Lucifer all looked over the lore. "There were several God-touched objects, but it never occurred to me that any of them survived the Flood, let alone the twentieth century," Lucifer said as he studied the bulletin boards with his arms crossed over his chest, his—Castiel's—eyes skimming over the information pinned into the cork.

"Do you think we can use it against Amara?" Sam inquired.

"It's perfect. And I can get you back there," he replied in realization.

Cassandra looked up from discreetly playing with her phone, suddenly deciding to tune into the conversation. How could Lucifer get one of the boys back to nineteen-forty-three without exposing himself? Last she had heard, Castiel was weak and almost powerless.

"Without wings? Cas, you can't even teleport," Sam argued.

Lucifer paced the length of the room, shaking his head. "Time travel is a—it's a whole different system."

Cassandra rolled her eyes at his bullshit.

Dean grinned and snapped his fingers, pointing to Sam. "Told ya!" he exclaimed.

Lucifer flipped up a page pinned to the board, studying the paper under it. "So, uh, these the last coordinates?" he inquired.

Cassandra sat up straighter in her seat and leaned forward, finally taking an interest into the board.

"That's the Bluefin's last transmission to shore, yeah," the older Winchester confirmed.

"Alright. Sounds good to me," Cassandra chimed in. "I'll channel Castiel's power and zap myself back there. What time, date, and coordinates did the last transmission come from?"

Sam stared at Cassandra pointedly. "No, you're not going." He looked back to Lucifer. "Cas, aren't there still risks with time travel? I mean aren't there consequences?"

Dean turned his his seat to face Sam and smacked his palm flat on the table. "Sam, this is the ideal scenario."

"What?" Sam and Cassandra chorused, their eyebrows rising in shock.

"That sub is a tin can floating in the middle of the ocean doomed to go down, you can't really mess with history at twenty-thousand leagues. So we get in, get the weapon, get out. It's a milk run."

"Well, that's not a very good plan."

"Well, if things get outta hand, then Cas will just zap me right back."

Sam's eyebrows rose and he licked his lips, staring at his brother in disbelief. "You?"

"You're not going," Dean argued.

"I beg your pardon?"

Cassandra and Lucifer exchanged glances, almost amused by their brotherly bickering. They ducked their heads down to hide their smiles, hoping that they wouldn't be caught.

"You need to stay here," Dean told Sam.

"Stay here?" the younger Winchester repeated.

"Just in case things go sideways, somebody needs to be left standing to take care of the Darkness. We can't risk us both! And at the moment, I'm the least valuable player! You both know that I can't kill Amara, so the least I could do is get the thing that we need so that you can!" Dean explained.

"So you expect me and Cassy to sit here and ride pine while you and Cas go play Jules Verne?" He tapped the tabletop with his index finger twice, shooting a glare in his older brother's direction.

"Yes! No. I—who?"

"I won't let him out of my sight," Lucifer promised, staring back at Sam intently. His promise wasn't for Sam, though. It was for Cassandra. He knew the terms of the deal and he knew that there were no loopholes. Sam and Dean Winchester were to remain safe and alive as long as Cassandra's heart still beat.

"You'll stay by his side the entire time," Sam ordered, turning his head to look up at the angel.

"I will."

Dean leaned forward on the table, locking eyes with his brother. "Sam, let me do this. Okay, I need to do this."

Sam sighed and reluctantly agreed, "Be safe."

"When am I not?"

Sam and Cassandra both scoffed. The latter pushed herself from her chair and quickly crossed the room towards Dean, cupping his face in her hands. She stood on her toes and pressed a kiss to his lips, letting herself linger before pulling away.

"Come back to me in one piece, okay?" she said softly.

Dean smiled and nodded. "Only if I can put a ring on your finger." He pecked her on the lips. "I love you."

"I love you," Cassandra repeated. She stepped back next to Lucifer and nodded.

Dean hit the table. "Let's do this, Cas." He turned to Sam. "Bon voyage." Dean disappeared with Lucifer, leaving the last two Hunters alone.

Sam and Cassandra exchanged glances, the latter shrugging. "Let's hope for the best," she said, taking a seat next to Sam and grabbing a book. She flipped it open to the chapter about the USS Bluefin and started to read.

Sam eyed her and set his book down, sucking in a sharp breath. "Let me ask you something, Cassy."

The Nephilim slowly looked up and nodded, licking her lips as she set the book down.

"Why did you tell Dean not to propose to you? Isn't that the only reason you came back? You realized how serious he actually was?" Sam asked.

Cassandra sighed and ran a hand through her hair, shaking her head. "I told you, Sam, Dean won't accept me anymore if I go through with my plans for Heaven and Hell. Neither will Castiel and neither will you. Just face it; you should have never pulled me from the Cage. The world is better off without me," she explained.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"You'll find out," was all Cassandra said before returning her attention to the book.

Not long after, the main door to the Bunker swung open and both the Nephilim and the Hunter looked up with raised eyebrows to see Lucifer descend down the steps, drenched in salt water. It trickled from his clothing with every step and Cassandra cringed. The staircase was going to smell like the ocean for weeks.

"Cas? Why're you—wait a second, where's Dean?" Sam demanded, glancing towards the door to see that he was alone.

Cassandra's eyes widened when she realized that Dean was nowhere to be found.

"We made the leap. He got on, I didn't."

"What?" Cassandra shrieked. Anger boiled in her blood and she gritted her teeth, trying to keep her cool. Lucifer knew what would happen if he lost Dean for good. She had made herself perfectly clear back in the Cage when she agreed to the alliance.

"I couldn't make it past the hull," Lucifer admitted.

Cassandra got up and grabbed a towel from where she had been folding laundry earlier and tossed it to Lucifer, watching as he caught it effortlessly before peeling off his sopping trench coat.

"Someone must've warded the ship!" Lucifer growled as the trio made their way into the next room.

"Delphine? It has to be, I mean she's protecting the weapon, right? Cas, just go back to their last port before she boarded! Leave a message so Dean knows!" Sam exclaimed.

"Where?" Lucifer snapped, throwing the towel down on the table and turning to face the Hunter. "Where would Dean see it that the crew wouldn't? He's as likely to find the warding as he is any message I'd leave."

"Then send me. You got Dean past the hull," Sam suggested.

Cassandra rolled her eyes. "Right. We'll double down on what screwed us the first time. You're really bringing your A ideas today," the Nephilim hissed.

Lucifer ruffled his hair with the towel in an attempt to dry it as he sat down. "I can't believe I lost it." He sighed when Sam turned and eyed him questioningly. "Him. Can't believe I lost Dean," the archangel corrected. "Well, it's up to him now to find and clear the warding."

Sam shook his head and turned towards the library, his gaze skimming over the titles. "No. We can help. There's gotta be something in magic or angel lore. Some way to clear the sigils from the outside." He turned back to see Lucifer run his hand down his face, sighing in defeat. "Cas, don't worry. We'll bring him back," Sam assured him.

Cassandra glanced between the two before grabbing onto Lucifer's wrist, dragging him out of the room. "I need to talk to you." She didn't give him or Sam a chance to question her or protest before she tugged him down the hall and out of earshot. "You better think fast because right now our deal isn't looking so hot."

"Cassandra—"

"You lost my boyfriend, Lucifer!" she sneered in a hushed whisper, gripping the sleeve of his suit. "I'm beyond pissed. I don't need to remind you of the deal. I'm gonna do everything I need to get Dean back, but Sam and I also need your help and for you to put in some effort before that ship goes down with him on it." She stepped forward, their faces inches apart. "Remember that I'm the one with your Grace and if you try to betray me then I will be the one to take you down."

"Duly noted," Lucifer deadpanned, rolling his eyes.

Approaching footsteps shut Cassandra up but she didn't turn around and only tightened her fingers on the fabric of Lucifer's jacket.

"Cassy? What's going on?" Sam questioned, peeking in the room.

"Nothing," Cassandra replied, never tearing her gaze from Lucifer's. "We were just having a friendly chat." She stepped back and released him, forcing a smile on her lips. "Right, Cas?"

"Right," Lucifer said before walking past the blonde.

Sam gulped and glanced between the two warily. Cassandra never called him Cas. Not once had she ever referred to the angel by his nickname in the time that he had known her. He knew that something more was going on; something more than taking over Heaven and Hell to bring peace and organization. She was hiding something much bigger.

~*~

A few hours later, the trio spread themselves out across the library, knee-deep in old books about the USS Bluefin, angel and time travel lore, and spells.

"Wait a second. I think I have something," Sam announced.

Groggy and stressed, Cassandra and Lucifer both looked up from their current books at the table.

"'The spell of gathering.' It's an incantation used to focus the power of celestial beings—angels—against all drawn forms of evasion. The spell is designed to clear all mystical or occult blockages. I mean this is highly theoretical magic, it's never been used before, but it sounds like it could work," Sam explained as he lowered himself in the chair next to Lucifer, skimming over the page.

"And the ingredients?" Lucifer inquired, leaning to the right and studying the pages.

"Uh..." Sam's fingers slid down the page as he muttered to himself, stopping and leaning back in his chair in defeat. "All but one. That's why it's never been used before; it requires the power of an archangel." He shut the book and shook his head.

"I have the power of an archangel," Cassandra chimed in. "The power of two archangels, actually. I'm still hopped up on Lucifer juice from six years ago. My powers were dormant in the Cage and I haven't used them much. It could work."

Sam shook his head. "It could kill you, Cassy."

Cassandra chuckled. "Sam, only an angelic weapon could kill me. This could work."

"Well, Sam, she's right. We may as well try," Lucifer said.

Sam scoffed and shook his head. "We don't have time for long shots, Cas. Even at full power you may not be strong enough." Leaving it at that, Sam got up and retreated from the room in search of another spell, one that would work with the lies he was deceived into believing.

~*~

Cassandra sighed and sat up, shifting from her position of hanging off of the bed upside down. It was her best position of concentration as she read through different spells online that she knew were legitimate. She went to open another tab when Sam's voice stopped her.

"Dean, that's not Cas!"

Cassandra looked up from her phone and furrowed her eyebrows in confusion at Sam's frantic voice. Dean. Lucifer managed to pull him back from the submarine. Her eyes widened and she stuffed her phone in her pocket, rolling off of the bed and racing out of her room and down the halls. She could hear shouts and groans of pain and Lucifer's voice booming throughout the Bunker.

"Cassy! Help!" Dean yelled out.

She turned the corner, stopping abruptly and catching herself on the wall as she stared back at her boyfriend. Lucifer pinned him down, leaving the Hunter helpless and defenseless, while Sam struggled to push himself up with shaking arms. Her gaze shifted between each man, contemplating on who to help.

Lucifer let go of Sam and flung Dean into a wall when he raced towards him, laughing. "I feel a burden lifted. You know, this whole deep cover thing, it just wasn't—it wasn't terribly well thought out. Donning this—this Cas mask? This grim face of angelic constipation? It just—ugh. And then, teaming up with you two. I mean, I thought you boys were insufferable as mortal enemies, but working with you? That's the soul crusher. How does Cassandra do it?"

The entire time Lucifer went on a rant, Sam managed to pull his knife from his back pocket and slice his palm.

With one look from the fallen archangel, Cassandra hesitantly flicked her wrist, pinning Dean to the wall with an invisible force.

Dean and Sam stared at her in betrayal and disbelief as she slowly made her way next to Lucifer, her arm lowered back to her side but still holding Dean. "Why the faces, boys? You should be cheering."

Cassandra caught Sam out of the corner of her eye and watched as he started to paint the angel banishing sigil on the concrete pillar. The younger Winchester locked eyes with her, paling slightly as he tensed. She returned her attention to Lucifer, almost as if she had never even seen Sam. Then it hit him. She was reluctant. Her loyalty to Lucifer wasn't whole.

"We have a common enemy. With this—" Lucifer held up the Hand of God, wrapped in cloth. "—she will be no problem. I mean, I will have killed you both by then, but still. Come on." His bare hand curled around the Hand of God.

Dean's eyes widened in horror. "No!"

Cassandra bit her lower lip, her heart skipping a beat when Lucifer's eyes closed but no power could be felt. It didn't work and they all knew it. He opened his eyes and glanced at the Nephilim just as she released Dean, spinning around and landing a blow to Lucifer's jaw. He stumbled back, dropping the worthless Hand of God.

"We had a deal, Lucifer," she hissed, her fists clenched at her sides. "No harm is to come to Sam and Dean and here we are."

"You bitch!"

"You are the one who hasn't upheld your end of the deal. I warned you what would happen if you lied to me." She reached out and grabbed onto his shoulders, ready to throw him across the room, when he snatched her wrists in his grasp and locked eyes with the Nephilim. She narrowed her green eyes into a glare.

"You listen to me, Cassandra. This is a partnership. There is no deal. We get out of the Cage, stop Amara, and take over. That was the plan, remember? To make an omelette you have to crack a few eggs. Are Sam and Dean really worth it? I mean, they are the reason you were stuck in the Cage with your father and I."

The blonde cocked her head to the side slightly and her lips parted in thought, almost as if she were considering his words.

"Cassy, don't listen to him!" Dean yelled.

She glanced over at him before looking back to Lucifer as he said, "Don't listen to Dean. He has caused all of the pain in your life. Remember?" Cassandra gasped as all of the visions from Hell flooded her mind and she gripped forearms.

"You're lying!"

"When have I ever lied to you, Cassandra? When? But how many times has Dean lies to you? Sam? Castiel? Face it. I'm the only one who loves you. I'm the only one you can trust."

"Cassy—" Sam tried, choking on his words.

Lucifer's irises glowed a deep red, and Cassandra's flickered to a dark blue in return, her jaw clenching visibly as she struggled to resist. The Devil's lips curled into a smirk and he released his niece, taking a few steps back. He started towards Dean in rage when Sam slammed his palm against the sigil. Lucifer disappeared into a bright light and Dean fell to his knees from Cassandra's sudden shock, catching her off guard.

Sam leaned his head back against the wall and closed his eyes, breathing a sigh of relief.

Dean looked up from his spot on the floor, eyeing Cassandra warily. She glanced between the two men before appearing in front of Dean, lifting him off of the ground by his shirt and slamming him against the wall. She held him there, angel blade to his throat.

"And just what do you think you can do against me?" she spat. She studied his face, recognizing the fear easily. She grinned and laughed. "You're useless to me now."

Den's emerald eyes widened. "You're not Cassy," he choked out.

"Oh, I'm Cassy, alright. I'm just new and improved." She glanced over her shoulder at Sam. "Ain't that right, Sammy boy?" Cassandra looked back to Dean and tilted her head, shaking it. "Sam's known for awhile now but he actually thought he could bring back the girl you loved. Isn't that just adorable?"

Dean stared back at his brother in shock.

Sam shook his head and gulped. "I never knew she was working with Lucifer. I didn't even know he had escaped until now."

Cassandra glanced at Sam and laughed before returning her attention to her boyfriend. "Sammy's right. I kept that minor detail out. Instead, I told him that I planned on taking over Heaven and Hell." She mocked a pout. "Poor wittle Dean was left out of the loop," the Nephilim taunted.

"Why would you work with Lucifer? Why would you turn against everything you've fought for? Everything you've died for?" Dean asked.

"Don't you get it, Dean? I died for you pathetic humans! I risk my ass time and time again to make sure you all stay alive because it was God's Will. Well, you know what? I say, screw God and everything He wants." She pressed the blade against his throat, drawing a bit of blood. "I am done being His little bitch. It's time I take matters into my own hands."

"And this is how you do that? You work with Lucifer?"

"Mhm. And wanna know how it was supposed to work out?"

Dean stayed silent.

"You and Sam were supposed to live. Lucifer and I were gonna spare you but then I found out about your connection to auntie Amara and I realized that it's really not worth it. I mean, sure, she's weak enough to have a connection to some human, but me? No, I'm better than that. I'm more than that. You can act on your 'connection' now. Maybe you can give the ring to her."

Dean pushes back the tears that burned his eyes. He refused to cry in front her now. "Was anything even real?"

"Of course it was...in the beginning," Cassandra replied, nodding her head to the side. She chuckled when she heard Sam gag and fall back to the ground after trying to get up. "Stay down, Sam. I can't have you trying anything. Trust me, it's in your best interest." She never took her eyes off of Dean as she spoke.

"This can't be you. Not even Hell could change you into this," Dean told her.

Cassandra arched an eyebrow. "You think Hell was bad for you? I would've given anything—anything—to be sliced, cut, and carved into day after day after day. Being stuck in that Cage with Michael and Lucifer was worse than them bringing the Apocalypse. It wasn't just physical torture, Dean. Most of the time they weren't even near me when it happened. It was all up here." She tapped the side of his head. "Hallucinations, visions, memories—you name it, they tortured me with it. After I was immune to watching everyone I've ever loved die, they made them turn on me and kill me. Imagine how that feels."

"You know I'd never hurt you. I may have screwed up in the very beginning, but you know I've changed. I changed for you, Princess."

"Which is why you're going to die. The only way to stop me is to kill me and I know you won't do that. You don't have it in you. You'd rather die than kill the woman you love, Mark of Cain or not. Which is how you make this so easy."

"Princess, please," Dean begged. "This isn't you. You didn't die in that Cage. You gotta see that. I know you're still in there."

"Cassandra, stop. Think this through," Sam called out from his spot on the floor. "This isn't you. I know you."

"No, you knew me, Sam." She focused on Dean. "And, Dean, the Cassy you fell in love with all those years ago is gone and she's never coming back. She died when she fell in that cage with Sam and the Archangels. I'm just the better version of her and, oh, how good it feels to finally be myself around you," Cassandra said, an excited giggle bubbling past her painted lips.

When Dean looked into her eyes, when he really looked into them, he could still see the slightest sliver of light inside her. The last bit of his Cassandra that was left and he was determined to get her back. He went to lift his arm when she slammed his head against the wall to stop him, earning a groan. That light in her was holding her back. She wouldn't kill him, not yet. She couldn't.

"Princess—"

She pressed the blade against his neck with more force and Dean gagged, eyes wide. Her lips curled into a sick grin and she leaned forward, her lips brushing against his jawline. "Your precious Princess is dead. Long live the Queen." Cassandra stepped back and released Dean, letting him collapse to the floor. "So long, boys. I have a bitch waiting to be killed and I'm on a bit of a tight schedule. I'll see you soon."

"Don't be too sure," Sam growled.

Cassandra turned towards the younger Winchester and laughed. "Sweetheart, you just can't stay away from me. Of course I'll see you again." With that, Cassandra disappeared to only God knows where, leaving Sam and Dean weak and bloody on the Bunker floor.

Dean rested his forehead on the floor, exhaling. "Sweetheart," he muttered, disgust rolling off of his tongue. "That's not Cassandra."

"We'll get her back, Dean."

"I'm not so sure this time, Sammy. I think Lucifer's controlling her."

"And we pulled her back from when she sided with Michael. She's not gone, not yet, okay? I won't let you lose her. I won't let us lose her. She's all we got left," Sam assured him, cringing as he helped his older brother up. "We'll get Cassandra back even if it kills us."