Just as everyone reached an impasse, the basement door silently swung open from outside.
A figure stood in the doorway.
He wore ordinary khaki pants and a plaid shirt. His appearance was unremarkable, and his demeanor gentle, like a young man from next door.
Yet the instant they saw him, the air in the basement seemed to freeze solid.
Like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, Castiel abruptly shielded Sam and Dean behind him. His left hand formed a blade with two fingers, ready at any moment to cut open his palm and use angel blood to draw an emergency teleportation circle.
His voice carried unprecedented tension and fear. "Michael!"
Dean and Sam instantly entered combat mode, their weapons aimed at the unexpected visitor by the door.
He was Heaven's archangel, Lucifer's brother, the man who regarded Dean as his "destined vessel"—and yet he had appeared here in such an ordinary manner.
Michael—or rather, the temporary vessel he had chosen—showed a trace of perfectly measured apology. He raised both hands to indicate that he meant no harm.
"Relax, Castiel. I'm not here to fight."
His voice was calm and carried a strange soothing power, but it could not dispel the chill in everyone's hearts.
"I deeply apologize for Zachariah's previous actions. I didn't know he would try to 'persuade' you that way, Dean."
His gaze shifted to Dean, his expression complicated. "As for Heaven unilaterally cutting off support for the exorcism edicts, I only just learned of that as well."
"The High Council bypassed me." He paused, a nearly imperceptible helplessness entering his tone. "The gates of Eden have been temporarily sealed, and access to the relevant holy relics has also been frozen. Reopening them will take time, and I currently can't intervene by force."
"I came here