Author's Note: Hello all! Here's a new story for you. I'm not sure if it's any good, but I sure enjoyed writing it. I am planning on continuing it, but feedback would be amazing. Thanks always for reading and reviewing.

Castiel came to slowly. He found that he was lying on the floor of a large, empty room. Every breath he took sent pain rushing to his blood-stained chest. He tilted his head forward to discover that the Angel Banishing symbol carved into his chest was gone; healed.

Although it wasn't visible, the power of the sign lingered and made it difficult for Castiel to breathe. He peered around slowly, realizing, to his horror, that he was trapped inside a ring of Holy Fire.

The angel frantically looked around the room for his captor, but he saw no one. Castiel stood slowly to his feet. "Dean?" He called into the shadows of the room, cautiously. "Sam?"

A figure stepped slowly out of the shadows. "Dear Castiel..." Lucifer said, taking another step into full view. "How nice it is to see you."

"Lucifer," Castiel replied, gravely. Lucifer took another step towards Castiel's prison of fire.

"You are quite hard to get a hold of, Castiel. I've been trying to track you down for some time now. Good thing we were both in the same area. That made things so much simpler. I am sure that you're quite aware of what I need from you." Lucifer said, sounding eerily pleasant.

Castiel simply stared at Lucifer. When he didn't reply, Lucifer started again.

"I need the Winchesters… both of them." He said, ominously.

The trapped angel was immediately confused. Both? Sam was his vessel. Dean would be of no use at all! As if reading his mind, Lucifer spoke again.

"You're confused. This is understandable. After all, you are aware of my… circumstances. Sure, Sam Winchester is my one, true vessel, but if we're being honest, I have taken a liking to Dean. I find that he and I are more alike than Sam and I, even. I don't often grow attached to humans, but Dean is different. He is strong and stubborn… and a merciless torturer. I intend on using his abilities." Lucifer paced in front of Castiel as he finished speaking.

Castiel felt his fists clenching and he struggled to contain his anger. "Dean Winchester is good. He is pure. You will never have him." He answered loudly.

Lucifer clicked his tongue and gazed at Castiel. "See, that is where you are wrong, brother. After a small amount of convincing, Dean would willingly join me. Do you know that he enjoyed torturing, Castiel? He often dreams of the souls he tortured… and he longs to cause that kind of pain again. He misses torturing. He yearns for it. He longs to feel his blade under the skin of some poor, defen…"

"Stop!" Castiel commanded, interrupting Lucifer. "You are lying and wasting time. I will never, ever help you get Dean and Sam. I would die before I gave you any information about them."

Lucifer eyed Castiel curiously. "You do amaze me, Castiel. So passionately defending two measly, insignificant humans… You are far superior to them, and yet, you willingly serve them. Why?"

Castiel drew a sharp breath. "Because…" He started. "People are good, Lucifer. Everything they do and feel, the way they care for each other, the way that they love; God was right. Humans are his most wonderful creation." He finished, strongly.

"You feel, don't you, young one?" Lucifer asked, turning his head to one side. "You care about the Winchesters; about Sam and Dean."

Castiel nodded slightly. "They are… my friends. I will defend them with everything that I have… With my life."

"So I see." Lucifer said, looking at the ground. "You are so very interesting to me, Castiel, or 'Cas', as the Winchesters affectionately call you. Nice nickname they've given you. I quite like it."

Castiel's eyes widened at the use of his nickname. "It is 'Castiel' for you. Dean tells me that nicknames are a sign of friendship. You are anything but my friend." A slight confidence shone in the angel's voice.

Lucifer took a half-step back. "Do not forget who you are speaking to, Castiel." He said, pronouncing Castiel's full name loudly. "Little Deano…" Lucifer clicked his tongue again. "He can do no wrong, can he? You hold him in high respect… Too high. He will fail. Dean Winchester will fail, and you will witness it. How can you fight against what our Father wants?" Lucifer asked Castiel.

At this, Castiel's face darkened. "None of this is our Father's wish. This is the result of your selfishness. A petty argument between brothers has turned into a war. This is your fight, Lucifer, and Michael's, do not bring the entire planet into it as well. It is… your own damn problem."

Lucifer only shook his head at Castiel's words. "You have changed so much. You are even beginning to sound like a Winchester, my friend."

"Do not call me your friend." Castiel stated, simply.

Lucifer waved this off. "Cursing is not something you would have done before." Lucifer said, solemnly. "They're changing you."

"Then I'm changing for the better." Castiel said, proudly. "I was blind before. Following blindly. I was wrong. I know that now and I will fight for what I know is right. I will fight for Sam and Dean with every single thing I have." He ended.

"I can see that." Lucifer said, slowly. "What am I supposed to do then, Castiel? I can't let you go. I do have a reputation to uphold. Killing you would not help me. It would only drive Sam farther away. So what now?"

Castiel simply stared at Lucifer. His bright, blue eyes boring into him. Lucifer suddenly had an idea; a certain epiphany.

"I know exactly what I'll do with you!" He said, a smile forming on his broken face. "Can't believe I didn't think of this sooner. How genius of me…" Lucifer rambled to himself.

Castiel was growing nervous. "What… what will you do?" He asked, quietly.

"I'm going to take your Grace of course!" Lucifer replied, cheerfully. "What's left of it, at least."

Castiel's eyes widened in fear. "No. You… you cannot do this."

"Oh, but I must!" Lucifer replied, still pleased with himself.

Castiel began to panic. "But this… this is the worst thing. Please Lucifer, do not do this."

"Don't beg Castiel, it doesn't become you. This is, obviously, my only option. I can't let you go back to the Winchesters and be help! So, I'll let you go back and be a burden. That helps me so."

With this, Lucifer raised his arm and pointed his hand at Castiel. The trapped angel suddenly felt an excruciating pain in his chest. A bright, white light blinded Castiel and he could feel his Grace ripped out of his chest against his will. It was more pain than he could ever imagine. In an instant, Castiel fell to the ground and the world went dark.