The scent of Tartarus burned into my nostrils. I had always built the place up in my mind. The nightmare I have not been able to forget or escape. I had once been stuck in the minor section of the hellish pits, reliving my worst fear over and over again, but this was something else. Terrifying didn't even begin to cover it. My feet still hadn't crossed the border into the nightmare but already I felt exposed. I had full body armour, a team of strong and battle ready demons at my back, and my angel blade in hand, but I knew they would not offer much protection against the evil that lurked within the pits.

There were too many places for someone to hide; high rocky peaks and narrow walkways that offered no escape. Once you were in, there would be no turning back. I didn't like it. Not one bit. It was an ambush waiting to happen and there was no doubt in my mind that Lucius's enemies would not hesitate to ambush me at a moment's notice if they were given the chance.

It didn't help that the sky above was reflecting my inner turmoil. It crackled with bolts of lighting, the energy brimming the air around us even as thunder shook the ground beneath my feet. However the clouds above were not think grey storm clouds we had on earth. They were made up of red clouds of dust that hung ominously above us.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Castiel asked, his own sword in hand as he surveyed the landscape around him. "When we found Lucius we traced out the path but it doesn't mean you won't succumb to the varying layers of protection in place. It's not a journey to be taken lightly."

"Did Lucius put you up to this? I am fine. I am going in whether you want me to or not." I tilted my chin up defiantly and dared him to say another work. "I will enter Tartarus with or without you. I need answers so I can protect my family. The question is whether you are strong enough to follow me."

Castiel nodded his head while a grave smile played on his lips. "I will follow you into battle no matter where you go. You're family now."

Resting a hand on his shoulder, I offered him a small smile in return. "You're family too. You're like the brother I never had." I said, before letting my hand fall away. "Now, as much as I would love to lead the charge, I have absolutely no idea where I am going."

"Don't worry, I know where we're going." Castiel replied, his face calm and reassuring. Then, moment broken, I saw the warrior emerge from within the trench coat. His face became hard as he rolled his shoulders and allowed his own angel blade to form in his grasp. Turning, he addressed the group behind us. "Be on alert. Many of you will never have entered Tartarus before and it is not a place for the faint of heart. Stay on the path and keep your wits about you. There are things in Tartarus that even you should fear so keep your weapons out and your guard up. Follow me."

Castiel set a fast pace. After resting around and eating for weeks on end, rubbing shoulders with the demon elite, and carrying out Lucius's royal duties, it was a battle to keep pace. Even my trip through the tunnels to search for Terran and his followers had not prepared me for the speed with which he moved. Apparently having powers did not excuse my own laziness and gluttony.

Muscles in my legs burned and my chest ached as I drew in each breath but it was different from when I had been just human. It was like my body was stretching and coming awake after a slumber. It burned and yet it was also a good ache. It was as if my body was reminding me of my purpose and what I was capable of. It was reminding me that I was no longer that lost single mother who had first wandered into Satani Media.

Adjusting my grip on my blade, I kept Castiel in my line of vision as all times. I stepped where he stepped, making sure to remain on the path behind him. The terrain changed rapidly, becoming more hostile as we led on.

Thorn bushes surrounded us, their gnarled and twisted branches biting at our ankles as we passed. It felt as if they were doing everything they could to stop our progress. I hissed as one snagged as the exposed skin on my arm, drawing blood in the process. I'd had worse injuries in my life, but much like a paper cut, the small wound was intent on making its presence known.

I felt something wash over me. Almost as if I had walked through an invisible barrier and all sound dropped away. All I could hear was my own breathing and the drumming of my heart within my chest. And then there it was.

"MUM." The voice called and my grip automatically tightened around the blade. "Please, help me!"

A scream pierced the air a moment later. It felt like a dagger had been forced into my heart. Danny voice continued to beg and plead over and over again.

Closing eyes, I tightened my hand around my blade and focused on what I knew to be real. My angel blade thrummed in my grasp, a steadying presence in the midst of the trickery of Tartarus. Between that and the small wound, I was able to make it past the strange magic of the fiery pits. As if it senses a losing battle, the scream grew louder and more desperate – fighting for my attention.

I shook my head. It wasn't real; my son was safe at home. He was with Lucius and the Pegasus. He was safe. He was not out there, injured and alone. And yet, the magic had done its job. For even if I knew it to be a lie, a small thread of doubt had made its way in.

A gasp sounded behind me before there was a clang of metal on stone. I snapped my head around and watched in slow motion as one of the warriors staggered and fell into the brambles. They tore strips into his flesh, tightening around his limbs like a snake ensnaring its prey within its coils. Horror welled within me. Were they sentient?

The demons rushed to free their comrade. Swords slashed and the bush gave a whine as its limbs were hacked off. Finally free, the demon was hauled on to his feet and back onto the path. But that brief slip had been enough. His face had drained of colour and, had his hair not already been shaven from his head, I'm sure it would have turned white.

"Everything okay?" I asked, a frown forming as I took in the tremble of his hands.

"Yes, Milady." He replied, shrugging off the concern with a stiff nod. He ran his trembling fingers through his hair before bending down to pick up his sword

I didn't believe him for a second but it wasn't the time.

Remembering our purpose, I looked away and instead hurried to catch up to Castiel. Taking more care than before, I made sure that each and every step remained on the path. I also gave the brambles a wide birth. I wasn't in a hurry to repeat the demon warrior's experience.

At one point in the path, there were signs of the previous struggle. Black shards lay clattered on the ground, broken and crumbling, as if they had begun to decay. There were darkened patches where blood had soaked into the ground. It was just another reminder of the danger we faced.

A sparkle drew my eye. And there, shining on the ground, was a gleaming shard of metal.

Crouching down, I picked up the small piece of metal and felt the familiar warmth of an angelic blade. It was a piece of Lucius's sword. I knew it in my heart but the only question was how? What could damage an angel blade? And how had I not noticed Lucius's blade was damaged? We had been in a fight since then and he had had his sword. Of that I was certain.

Then again, how closely did you look at someone else's weapon? They were strangely personal. Slipping the shard into my pocket, I tried to shake off my concerns but they wouldn't go away. If there was something out there that could do this to an angel blade, our mission did not bode well.

Hours later, though it felt as if it had been days, Castiel turned sharply to the left. The path started to slope downwards, carving its way towards a deep canyon. We had seen no signs of other living beings. It was as if we were moving through a post apocalyptic wasteland and we were somehow the lone survivors. 

Stones crunched beneath my feet causing my ankles to twist and roll uncomfortably with each step. And it grew hotter with each inch that we took. Sweat beaded on my forehead and my clothes clung uncomfortable to my sweaty body. However, Castiel forged on ahead and didn't slow his pace for a moment so I followed.

Craggy rocks soon loomed over us from either side, blackened trunks of long dead trees emerging from the gaps. A grey fog rolled around our feet, obscuring the path before us, and a heaviness formed in the air. A wrongness that urged me to turn away. I wanted to turn back. I really did.

But sometimes the things that were right were not easy.

Pressing my lips together I pushed on forwards, stepping over rocks and broken branches that littered the path. Castiel held up his hand and I came to a halt at his side. He didn't even look in my direction. His attention was focused to the right.

I followed his gaze and sucked in a sharp breath. A crevice in the wall opened up into darkness. It gave off no light. And there, smeared over the edge of the rocks, was the same black substance that had been at the castle. But most alarming was that, surrounding the opening, there were the remains of several demons. Black shards protruded from their chests, their cause of death clear for all to see.

"Terran's men." Castiel confirmed, stepping closer so that he could look upon their faces. 

I swallowed. "We have to go in there, don't we?" I asked as I stared into the darkness.

He nodded stiffly.

I chuckled but there was no mirth to it. "At least there are no spider webs. I've seen Lord of the Rings." Castiel, momentarily distracted, arched a quizzical brow. "You're joking? You haven't seen Lord of the Rings? And the part in the film with the giant spider that likes dark and creepy places."

Castiel shook his head and stared into the darkness once more.

"How do you want to do this?" I asked, squinting into the gloom as if it would help me to see more clearly and reveal the secrets that were within.

"We go in slowly and carefully." He replied, his head turning to address those behind us. "It's narrow so we're going to have to do in single file. Be alert. We don't know what we're up against and our ability to fight is going to be limited. I want half of you to stay out here and guard our backs. Make sure nothing comes in behind us."

"Yes, sir."

"Let's go."

There was no time for hesitation. I followed behind him slowly, hating the way the walls seemed to close in around us. The air was hot and cloying yet oddly lifeless. Stale. I wrinkled my nose at the musty scent that lingered on the air.

All too soon things were crunching under my feet. Allowing my blade to glow a little brighter, I fought back the bile which was trying to climb up my throat as I realised the path was littered with humanoid bones. No doubt our foes previous victims and obviously long dead by the way they crumbled so easily. It didn't make it any easier.

Eventually the crevice turned into a tunnel. And the tunnel led into an underground cavern whose floor was littered with rocks and chunks of stone. A rough hole had been blown out of the ceiling allowing the space to be filled with the grim red light of Tartarus. Something told me it wasn't intended to be a sky light. Whatever had been stored in the cavern had broken out but not without help. Even now, there was a lingering of magic in the air. Magic that had been obliterated and only a few faint tendrils remained.

I held my breath as Castiel edged forwards, his eyes surveying the cavern beyond. After ten tense long seconds, he waved me forwards. I moved slowly into the room, taking great care not to trip over the rock shards littering the ground. The further in I went, the more I became aware of the smell. It was stronger than the tunnel. It was musty and tickled the inside of nose yet I couldn't quite place what it was from.

"What is that?" A youthful voice asked from behind.

Turning, I watched as they approached a large mound in the corner, their sword held aloft in preparation for an attack to come at any moment. Once they were close, they jabbed their sword forward, banging it against the top of what I could now see was a bowl like structure. Leathers and furs lined the inside. And there were also feathers – a mixture of black and putrid green.

"It looks like a nest." The warrior murmured, their slight frame leaning over the edge. He stretched out a hand and came back with an orb. For a moment I thought it was an egg but it glowed lowly within, a soft warm light that was soothing to look at. "It's weird. This almost feels – familiar."

Stepping closer, my own blade still in hand, I joined him at his side. The nest had dozens of orbs inside. Some glowed with an inner light. Other were black – their light having gone out.

I allowed my sword to become incorporeal, freeing up my hands. Crouching down beside the nest, I carefully leaned over the edge. Unbidden, my hands were drawn to the orb that was glowing the brightest, its red and light calling out to me. They looked almost like they were made of glass and yet under my fingertips I knew that this was something else. Something organic.

But there was something more. As soon as my hands touched the surface, and the swirling energy within brushed against mine, I knew.

"Lucius." I murmured, my fingers caressing the surface. I couldn't explain it – it just felt like him. His aura. How was it even possible?

Hugging it to my chest, I made my way over to Castiel taking great care to step over the chunks of rock. Something told me the consequences would be dire if I dropped the orb.

Castiel glanced up as I approached and I'm sure my expression said more than a million words.

"What is it? What have you got?" He asked with a frown, his eyes focused wholly on the swirling colours within the orb.

With no words, I held the orb tightly in one arm and then used my other to pick up his hand and then ever so gently placed it on top of the orbs polished surface. The light within pulsed almost in greeting and a small unwillingly formed on Castiel's face. And then it fell.

"It's Lucius. Or at least a part of him. It carries his essence but it is incomplete." He shook his head and drew his hand away. "I don't like this. I really don't like this."

"But it makes sense doesn't it." I replied, lowering my voice as I glanced at the warriors around us. "Since the incident, he's been changing. Like he's losing himself over time. What if he has – literally – lost a part of himself?"

Castiel swallowed and glanced over towards the nest. "I fear our problems are much greater than we ever anticipated. I believe what you hold is Lucius's soul – at least most of it. It is his humanity." He ran a hand tiredly over his face before meeting my gaze. "The Devil without a soul is not someone we want to face. And a beast that could remove his soul? That is something older and far more dangerous than Terran and his followers could ever be."

I swallowed in an attempt to clear the lump that had formed in my throat. "Fuck."

"My thoughts exactly." He replied with a smile as grim as I felt. "Team, ten minutes and then we head out. Grab what you can. I don't want to be here when its owner returns."