Burned Once, Never Again (Niamh and Castiel)

"Ah!" Niamh screamed. Her eyes flew open, and she sprang up from the bed, drenched in cold sweat. It felt as though her body was still burning from the fire.

A hand covered hers, gripping her fingers firmly. Patiently, Castiel coaxed her, "Shh, go back to

sleep."

Niamh flinched and instinctively pulled her hand away. She turned to see Castiel's handsome, refined profile and gasped.

She could see? How was that possible?

She closed her eyes, then opened them again. The brightness of the room greeted her, while sunlight filtered through her lashes and warmed her heart with its tenderness.

Niamh checked her phone. The date on the screen confirmed it was several months ago.

She had... been reborn?

Disturbed by her movements, Castiel woke up groggily. "What are you doing up so early?"

Niamh clutched her phone tightly. The timing was exact-it was the day before Macy's kidnapping.

Wrapping her arms around herself for comfort, she whispered under her breath, "Niamh, the heavens have spared you... you weren't meant to die."

Then, she inhaled deeply and looked at Castiel. "Castiel, let's get a divorce."

Castiel's eyes snapped open. "What did you just say?"

"I'll have Billie prepare the divorce agreement. If you're worried about your rights, you can have, your company's lawyer draft it."

"What are you on about?" Castiel grew irritated. It was too early for this kind of upheaval, and now she was throwing a bombshell at him.

Niamh, seemingly unaffected by his anger, casually asked, "When did you two start seeing each other?"

"Niamh!" Castiel's voice was laced with restrained fury.

"I'm tired of being your wife. If you want to give that woman the title, fine. But let me tell you, the seven

years we spent dating were a damn waste of my youth.

"But don't think you can deny me any of my rights. The joint assets will be split 50-50. If you try to play games, I'll make sure that woman's reputation goes down the drain along with yours." The veins on Castiel's forehead bulged. His gaze was fiery as if he wanted to swallow Niamh whole.

He couldn't grasp what had happened to Niamh. Just last night, they had been intimate and now, she was demanding a divorce out of nowhere.

Niamh stood up, put on her clothes, and briskly walked toward the door.

Behind her, Castiel's voice seethed with anger. "You know we've been together for ten years?"

Niamh didn't answer and went downstairs without looking back.

2/2

Niamh dialed her friend's number, and as soon as it connected, she said, "Help me draft a divorce agreement, I need it now."

The air went still.

After a brief pause, Billie Shea's voice erupted with surprise. "Have you finally made up your mind? I'll get up right away and draft it. Give me half an hour."

"Okay."

Niamh closed her eyes. Over the past year, news of Castiel's infidelity had reached her repeatedly. Even her friends knew and urged her to get a divorce, but she had always believed in him.

The following day would be the day Macy was kidnapped, marking the start of the breakdown in Niamh's relationship with Castiel.

This time, Niamh would not be passive like in her previous life by allowing Macy to flaunt having her corneas and carrying her husband's child.