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It's been a quiet little side project Balthazar's been picking away at since Lucifer refused to promise Castiel amnesty. As fun as it's been, he knows it's only a matter of time before his big brother starts making demands he won't be willing to follow through on - demands that would mean the betrayal of the other angels. No, no. It's better if he just quietly slips away and burrows as deep underground as he possibly can, where Lucifer won't be able to find him.
The problem is the mark. Lucifer's mark on his neck, he's sure, will override any wards he can create that will keep him hidden. It has to go - no question about it. It's a problem he's been looking to solve. He's traveled extensively, spoken to witches, and mystics; stolen ancient books, and scrolls to pour over. It's all discreet. It's all quiet. He's paid those he's spoken to well for their silence; fulfilling even the most outrageous demands, and swore bloody vengeance on them if they breathed a single word - or even thought about letting something slip - to anyone about what he's been up to.
He's been so careful.
Careful not to leave anything laying around, careful to keep it all completely out of his mind when Lucifer comes calling. He's sure he's done everything just right.
And he's close - he knows he's so close to unraveling a purifying ritual that will set him free that he can almost taste it. All this time that he's been avoiding contact with anyone else at all - human or angel - for fear that Lucifer could show up at any moment, or do someone harm, is coming to. Well. A distinct middle, at least. He's even started stashing away some of the necessary ingredients, squirreling them away in the wine cellar, hidden behind the shelving. Lucifer has no interest in drinking anyway.
He just needs to buy himself a little more time...
He's down in the cellar, carefully slipping a small corked bottle of ash in with the rest of his supplies in back of a rack of red wine.
The problem is the mark. Lucifer's mark on his neck, he's sure, will override any wards he can create that will keep him hidden. It has to go - no question about it. It's a problem he's been looking to solve. He's traveled extensively, spoken to witches, and mystics; stolen ancient books, and scrolls to pour over. It's all discreet. It's all quiet. He's paid those he's spoken to well for their silence; fulfilling even the most outrageous demands, and swore bloody vengeance on them if they breathed a single word - or even thought about letting something slip - to anyone about what he's been up to.
He's been so careful.
Careful not to leave anything laying around, careful to keep it all completely out of his mind when Lucifer comes calling. He's sure he's done everything just right.
And he's close - he knows he's so close to unraveling a purifying ritual that will set him free that he can almost taste it. All this time that he's been avoiding contact with anyone else at all - human or angel - for fear that Lucifer could show up at any moment, or do someone harm, is coming to. Well. A distinct middle, at least. He's even started stashing away some of the necessary ingredients, squirreling them away in the wine cellar, hidden behind the shelving. Lucifer has no interest in drinking anyway.
He just needs to buy himself a little more time...
He's down in the cellar, carefully slipping a small corked bottle of ash in with the rest of his supplies in back of a rack of red wine.
