CASTIEL'S REQUIEM

Chapter 42: Once upon a time in Given.

A/N: I guess y'all been wondering how Caz and Cariel's rivalry started or how Lucifer turned out the way he was. I wondered too until I decided I was gonna find out; and I did.. ladies and gentlemen I give you “once upon a time in Given."

Eons Before Earth Was Created.

In the realm beyond mortal comprehension, a realm of eternal bliss and splendor, a multitude of winged creatures gathered in joyous celebration. Angels of all kinds, male and female, alongside majestic winged beasts, converged upon the Diamond City of El, their destination and desire. They had traveled from the Golden City of Angels, their home and haven, to pay homage to their Creator and bask in the glory of His presence.

This grand assembly marked a momentous occasion, a tradition upheld since the dawn of the first angelic race, the archangels. Every Seventh million years, equivalent to one year of the Lord, the angelic host gathered to seek El's blessings, wisdom, and guidance. They came to express their gratitude for the past year's blessings and to reverence their Maker.

Among the illustrious angels in attendance were Immanuel, the embodiment of Holiness; Mikhael, the fearless warrior; Uriel, the sage of wisdom; Rafael, the compassionate healer; Gabriel, the devoted guardian and messenger of El; Zadkiel, the champion of righteousness; and Samael-Lucephah, the melodious herald of life and death.

As was the custom, El bestowed upon the angelic folk a precious gift - young angels to augment their numbers and strengthen their ranks. This sacred tradition had been upheld for eons, a testament to El's boundless love and generosity. The gathering was a time of great jubilation, a celebration of life, hope, and the eternal bond between the Creator and His angelic children.
The grand assembly erupted in a chorus of praise and adoration, as the four-headed beast sounded the trumpet and the other beasts played their instruments in joyful harmony. The angels fell to their knees, their voices united in reverence, "All hail our Creator, who is worthy to be praised!"

A misty veil shrouded the Tabernacle, and a presence of unparalleled majesty approached, halting before the twenty-four elders. The soft whisper of El's voice resonated within the hearts of all, "Rise!"

As one, the angels and beasts lifted their gaze, eager to behold the form El had taken this time. And behold, a majestic figure stood before them - a dark-skinned man with silver hair, attired in a white jacket and leggings, his feet hidden from view by brown sandals. Though wingless, he floated effortlessly in the air, as if borne by invisible wings.

By El's side stood two blonde-haired girls, identical twins except for their eye color - one silver, the other blue - a distinction that revealed their unique heritage. The girls, likely six to eight years old, gazed up at El with innocent wonder, their presence radiating an aura of purity and light.

The assembly held its collective breath, awestruck by the splendor of El's manifestation. The air vibrated with anticipation, as if the very fabric of reality was about to unfold a new chapter in the eternal saga of creation.
As the twin girls, Cariel and Castiel-Azrael, were drawn forward by an unseen force, the assembly of angels gasped in unison, their eyes fixed on the rare and wondrous sight. Twins were a rarity among the angelic host, with only a few instances in history, such as Mikhael and Samael, Metatron and Marveseus.

The majority of the angels erupted into jubilant cheers and applause, rejoicing at El's gift to their kind. However, not all shared in the joy. Samael, in particular, felt a pang of discontent, his eyes narrowing in suspicion. He wondered if El was attempting to replace him, or perhaps diminish his stature among the angelic host.

A hint of resentment simmered beneath the surface, as Samael's gaze lingered on the twins, his thoughts shrouded in a mix of envy and unease. The celebration continued, but the undercurrent of Samael's discontent hinted at a potential rift in the harmony of the angelic realm.

—_–

One angelic year later, the realm of the angels was abuzz with excitement. The green sun shone brightly in the sky, casting an ethereal glow over the lush landscape. The air was filled with the sweet scent of blooming flowers, and the soft chirping of birds could be heard in the distance.

In the midst of this idyllic setting, Samael stood tall, his perfect black hair sleek back, his electric blue eyes gleaming with intensity. He was surrounded by a group of angels, all of whom looked up to him with admiration and respect.

Cariel and Castiel-Azrael, now a year older, but looked like ten year olds stood by his side, their eyes shining with devotion. They had grown closer to Samael over the past year, spending countless hours in his presence, learning from him, and basking in his charisma.

But amidst the tranquility, a sense of unease lingered. Mikhael, the female angel of war, watched Samael with a keen eye, her suspicions about the angel's true intentions growing with each passing day. Her long, flowing silver hair cascaded down her back, and her piercing blue eyes narrowed as she observed Samael's every move.

As the angels gathered around Samael, their laughter and chatter filling the air, Mikhael's gaze never wavered. She knew that Samael's charm and charisma hid a darker truth, one that threatened the very fabric of their realm.
Samael, despised the Givens. He felt they were a threat to his power and popularity. He believed they worshipped El more than he did, which was unacceptable.

"Hey,Lucephah!  look what I've got!" Cariel yelled, outrunning her sister Azrael. Azrael walked slowly, sucking on her lips. Cariel closed her eyes, manifesting a scythe taller than her - and she was already five foot ten.

Samael took the scythe and examined it curiously. He eyed Azrael from the corner of his eye as she also had manifested twin short swords. The swords looked like they'd cut through anything and seemed easy to handle. Smart girl.

Turning his attention back to Cariel, who was getting angry at his attention on her sister, he asked, "What is this?" "It's my new weapon, do you like it?" Cariel asked.

"Yes, Cariel," he answered almost immediately. He had somewhere to be. "That's great, cos I'm gonna be the next Angel of Death after you," the ambitious young angel said. Her twin nodded vigorously, fearing her twin's wrath.
As Samael handed the scythe back to Cariel, he whispered, "Don't get too ahead of yourself, little one. The Angel of Death is not a title to be taken lightly." Cariel's smile faltered for a moment, but she quickly regained her confidence. "I'll show you, Samael. I'll be the greatest Angel of Death this world has ever seen."

Azrael, who had been quiet until now, spoke up, "Cariel, don't forget, we're in this together. We're twins, remember?" Cariel rolled her eyes, but a small smile played on her lips. "Yeah, yeah, I know. Let's go show Samael what we're made of." And with that, the twin angels disappeared into the shadows, leaving Samael to wonder what he had just gotten himself into.

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You can tell Castiel was in her sister's shadow as a kid.....but hopefully she'd get out from Cariel's influence.