The large paw drops away, and Castiel releases an exhale that is clearly relieved, one hand lifting to rub at his throat beneath the folds of the cloak where the monster's thick fingers had only just been grasping, and for all he has been threatened, he thinks perhaps.. this creature won't kill him. Or at least, it does not want to. It could have easily snapped his neck or torn him to shreds by now, likely already would have if it truly wanted to, and even though his father is kept imprisoned, he is still alive. That has to mean something

It's enough assurance, at least, that Castiel is brazen enough to challenge it, too fiercely protective of his father for his own good, perhaps, and the Lord Novak, he's sure, can see it in his face, knows that Castiel won't let this go without a fight.

"No," he says, at last, softly, before he's moving quickly to the cell, pressing his back to it with one hand open over his father's fingers that grasp still at the cold, rusted bars. "I won't go without him, I can't abandon my own father." And for all his voice is soft, there's a defiance that flashes in Castiel's eyes, a stolid force that suggests he means what he says, that there shall be no convincing him to leave. Instead, he lifts his chin and swallows thickly, already afraid of his own words and what they mean, but he forces them through anyway. ".. I will stay in his place."