The sounds of death guided us towards the chaos of fire and rubble surrounding the front of the castle. As we made it closer to the entrance, I was overwhelmed by the scent of burning flesh. Waves of heat continued to roll off of the pillars of fire crawling up the side of the building. As it ate into the fabrications, more of the masonry broke off and dropped onto the floor with loud crashes. The way was almost completely blocked by massive chunks of the doorway; the path through growing smaller by the second.

"This way in is not safe." Castiel stated, his eyes surveying the carnage before us. "We'll need to go through the other side. Circle around and find a way in."

The demons immediately moved to obey but I remained still. I knew he was right. I would be risking my life by going through the front entrance. More of the structure looked as if it would fall with but the slightest prompting.

But, if we waited, there was a chance my son and fiancé would be at risk.

It was a chance I was not willing to take.

My feet were moving before Castiel had a chance to stop me. I rushed forwards, flames grabbing at my clothes as I jumped over a pile of debris, narrowly avoiding the charred remains of one of the unfortunate souls who had been caught by the blast of the explosion.

"Savannah, what are you doing?" Castiel shouted at my back.

I glanced back and met his gaze through the flames. "I have to do this."

Without waiting for his response, I faced forwards and leaped over another pile. There were at least half a dozen bodies on the floor, some half buried by the rubble. Fire grabbed at my arms, the heart sending a shudder down my spine. Memories of the last time I had been burned made their way to the front of my mind, trying to overwhelm me.

There was another loud crack as another chunk of the castle broke away, thumping into the floor beside me. The floor trembled beneath my feet. I shook my head. There was no time to stop and think about what had been. No time to mourn the losses already suffered.

I had to move forward.

I had to hope my boys were okay and we would all get out of this alive because, if not- .

Pressing my lips together, I lifted one hand to shield my face and the other to hold the orb close to my body as I leaped through a wall flames. The intense smell of my own hair burning quickly filled my nose. My skin felt as if I had a mild case of sunburn, the heat lasting even as I landed on the other side and out of the flames.

There were more remnants of the fight inside. More bodies were strewn around the corridors, lying too still to be living. Cracks crept up the walls and threaded their way across the ceiling. As thuds and booms echoed down the hall towards me, clouds of dust drifted down before my eyes. The entire corridor could collapse at any moment.

Drawing in a deep breath, I rubbed at my singed eyebrows before rushing forwards towards the sounds of the fight. My sword came forward at my call, filling my hand once more. It took a moment to realise that footsteps were thudding behind me and when I spared a brief glance over my shoulder, I was met with Castiel's glare.

He caught up within a few strides, his eyes meeting mine. "What do you think you're playing at? This isn't the time to play hero." He took hold my arm and forced me to slow my run. "Running off on your own will just get you killed. Where will Danny be then?"

Shaking off his arm, I shot him a glare. "Danny is the reason I am here. I would never forgive myself if something happened to Danny because I hesitated."

"We all care about him." Castiel hissed, his eyes boring into mine. "However, your death will not help anyone."

I knew he was right. It had been impulsive to leap blindly into the flames.

Yet, I didn't regret it.

Ignoring his chastisement, I turned away and started running once more.

Castiel huffed at my side as he kept pace. "You're as bad a Lucius." And then more quietly, he added. "I get the feeling you're going to get me killed one of these days."

I pretended not to hear but a weight settled within my stomach. There was every chance that one of us would not make it out of this fight alive. I just had to hope that someone was on our side, whether it be luck, fate, or God.

It was with little surprise that the sounds led us to the throne room. The doors has been wrenched off of its hinges and were scattered across the hallway in shards. More demon blood coated the floor but I refused to spare more than a glance at the bodies which were lying far too still.

I closed my eyes briefly. There was just too much death. These were demons I knew and had spoken to.

My sword thrummed in my hands angrily, channelling my rage and sadness as it called for blood. Castiel placed a hand on my arm before stepping in front me. He shielded my body with his as he peered around the doorway. When he took a step forward, I followed, peering around his body into the room beyond.

It was a massacre.

Corpses were everywhere. Limbs torn off. Innards spilling from their stomachs. Necks bent at awkward angles while their eyes stared sightlessly at the ceiling above. And at the centre of it all stood Lucius.

It was like looking upon a stranger. There was no sign of the man I had come to know and love. His features were contorted into a feral snarl while his eyes glowed with a hellish red light. One of Terran's men leaped forwards, his blade striking towards Lucius's neck with deadly intent.

Lucius batted the blade away as if it were merely an annoying fly. The attacker's momentum carried him forwards and too late he realised his mistake. One of Lucius's hands wrapped around his neck as a grin appeared on his lips. I hoped to never see that smile again.

Lucius leaned in close, his eyes watching that of his victim with hungry anticipation. Then he thrust his other hand through the green skinned demon's chest. It broke through muscle and bone, and appeared out the other side of his with a still pulsing organ held tightly within his fist. Lucius squeezed, blood running from between his fingers and down his arm in thick rivulets, before dropping the heart on to the floor.

The demon's features grew slack and his arms dropped limply to his sides. Lucius removed his arm and the body was tossed to the side to join the rest of the carcasses.

"Is that the best you've got?" Lucius taunted, his white teeth glinting as he stepped forwards, his bare feet walking through the blood of his victims. "I expected more from you."

His hair was plastered to his head. At first, I thought it was just sweat but, as a trail of blood broke free from the hairline and trailed down his face, I realised the truth was so much worse.

Something in his manner didn't sit well.

Swallowing past the lump in my throat, I whispered, "He's enjoying it."

"This is not Lucius." Castiel took my hand and gave it a squeeze. "He's not himself. A devil without his soul is as bad as those condemned to Tartarus. If not worse."

I gritted my teeth in determination, my palm resting against the orb as the comforting warmth of Lucius's spirit caressed against my skin. "We need to finish this. Now."

"We're outnumbered." Castiel said in response, his focus on the legion of demons still salivating for the chance to take down Lucius. The brutal demise of their cohort did nothing to diminish their bloodlust.

"And so is Lucius." I replied, watching as an attacker ran at my fiancé from behind.

Lucius simply turned slowly, his expression bored as he picked up the short and stocky demon with one hand. He tilted his head to the side. His muscles didn't even appear strained as he took the demon's own knife easily from its flailing hands and buried it deep into his bulging eye. The demon quickly fell still. The body was discarded onto the floor a moment later.

"Lucius can take care of himself." Castiel replied. "We've got another target."

He nodded to the side of the throne room. At first, it was difficult to pick out one face in the gathering of battle ready demons. But then a gap formed and a familiar face appeared.

"Terran."

Cass nodded his head while his hand readjusted the grip around his blade. "Kill him and I'm certain many of his followers will run with their tails between their legs."

Even though a part of me wanted to go in search of my son, I had to trust that Sonakshi and the Pegasus had managed to get him to safety. It was the only hope I had.

I swallowed to try and ease the dryness in my mouth before I replied, "What are we waiting for? Let's kill him."

"We should wait for back up."

"Something tells me we don't have time for that."

Cass nodded his head in defeat and then together the pair of us moved into quietly into the room. All eyes were trained on Lucius and his macabre display so it took a few long seconds for Terran's men to realise we had arrived. We had managed to sneak behind a group who were stood just inside the doorway when our movement caused one of them to turn.

He opened his mouth to speak so I thrust my sword forward, cutting straight through his throat and vocal cords in one deadly strike.

It was too late.

The gargle of the demon's choking breath caused the demons closest to turn. Like a ripple in a pool of water, more noticed our presence and soon the bloodthirsty masses were headed towards us. They converged from all sides until Castiel and I found ourselves backed up against the wall.

Swords pointed in our faces but, unlike the demons we had fought outside, these showed some restraint. No one made to attack. They just watched and waited. What they were waiting for? It was an answer I didn't want to receive.

"TERRAN. Come here, you snivelling coward." Lucius demanded, using the distraction to step over the corpses of his victims. "You wanted to take me on so badly that you would kill your own kind. Well, here is your chance. One on one."

One of the demons before me shifted and blocked my view. I glared up at his face, contemplating cutting him down just so I could see what was happening. The youthful looking demon shifted awkwardly under my stare but the hold on his weapon, a deadly looking axe, did not waver.

Terran's laughter broken the tense stillness, the sound grating on my ears. "You don't honestly think I am that stupid. Do you?" A moment later a sharp whistle pierced the air. "Why would I take you on when I could get someone else to do it for me? They failed last time and I know they're very eager to settle the score."

The demons surrounding us fell still and I could see the fear in their eyes as they glanced over their shoulders. I tightened my grip on my sword. For a moment, you could have heard a pin drop in the throne room.

Then the ceiling imploded above us. A screech tore through the air as a beast swept through the opening. I blinked. What even was it? It was part bird, part humanoid, and there was an entire part of the beast I couldn't identify.

Dark wings arched out on either side of the humanoid body, black veins threading between the feathers as if its very body was run on darkness. Its limbs ended in deadly looking talons which were dripping with blood. A loin cloth was tied across its hips but otherwise body exposed to my gaze. Feathers, scales, and skin blended together, covering thick powerful muscles.

"Kill him." Terran ordered, his voice carrying over the sound of beating wings.

At the sound of his voice, the beast twisted its head. A shiver ran down my spine. Its eyes focused on Terran and there was loyalty within the stare. Even from a distance I could see that those eyes promised death. There was something about the birdlike features, right down to the sharp beak where his nose would have been, that made his stare more terrifying.

The beast made no attempt to move.

"What are you doing? I freed you so you will do my bidding. Kill him, Soul Stealer." Terran shouted in frustration.

The temperature in the room dropped. The beast swept down in a sharp abrupt movement sending the demons before me scattering out of the way. Finally able to see, I watched as Terran was caught between the beast's talons.

The birdlike creature flew up into the air, Terran's legs flailing while his hands held on tightly to the talons piercing through his flesh. They came to a hover high up in the air, the creatures head skimming the ceiling as it looked down at the prey.

"You dare to order me around, Cockroach. You were of use to me when I needed to break free from my prison but I tire of this game." The bird squawked, his voice high and painful to listen to. "You will be freed from the burden of grandeur that consumes your soul."

Terran's legs flailed beneath him in desperation as he fought to escape. And then the beast let go. The demon dropped towards the floor, his mouth open in a silent scream. But even as he let go of the physical form, the beast's talons remained hooked in something intangible. A mere shadow. A soul.

The Soul Stealer lifted its talon to its face so it could peer as the murky substance within its grasp. "Weak."

An involuntary gasp escaped my lips as the beast grasped one end of the shadow with its beak. Then, with a terrifying cry, it shredded the shadow into tiny little pieces. The strands fizzled into nothing before they could touch the floor.

I had never liked Terran but to see a soul destroyed in such a way. A shudder rolled down my spine.

No longer distracted, the beast turned its eyes down to the rest of us in the room. Its beak pulled up into a grotesque version of a smile. "So, who is next?"