Cain (Supernatural)

"It's called the "Mark of Cain" for a reason! First...first, you'd kill Crowley. There'd be some strange, mixed feelings on that one, but you'd have your reason. You'd get it done, no remorse. And then you'd kill the angel, Castiel. Now, that one...that I suspect would hurt something awful. And then! [...] Then would come the murder you'd never survive, the one that would finally turn you into as much of a savage as it did me. [...] Your brother, Sam. The only thing standing between you and that destiny is this blade. You're welcome, my son."

- To Dean, "The Executioner's Song"

Cain, the first murderer, is a character appearing in the CW show Supernatural, based on the Biblical Cain.

He is portrayed by Timothy Omundson, who also plays King Richard in Galavant.

Biography
Cain and his brother, Abel, were the first sons of Adam and Eve, and the direct ancestors of Sam and Dean Winchester. Cain loved his brother deeply.

One day, Cain found Abel talking to some unseen force that Abel claimed was God. Cain, however, found out that his brother was really talking to Lucifer, who sought to corrupt Abel. Wanting to save his brother, he made a deal with Lucifer in which he exchanged his own soul for Abel's. Lucifer slyly agreed, but added the catch was that Cain had to kill Abel so Abel could go to Heaven. Cain therefore took his brother out to a field and killed him, using an animal's jawbone (which became the First Blade), marking his legacy as a killer and "the Father of Murder."

Lucifer, in response, gave Cain a supernatural mark, which came to be known as the Mark of Cain, that empowered him greatly but also corrupted him. Unable to take the strain, guilt, and pressure of the Mark, Cain committed suicide but, due to the Mark, instead of dying, his soul was transformed into a demon, making him a Knight of Hell.

All future humans believed Cain to be pure evil and nothing less than a demon, but although Cain did become a demon when he died, Cain was in fact trying to save his brother from going to Hell.

In Hell, Cain become the master of the Knights of Hell, including Abaddon, and reared them in the art of murder. He also presumably trained Alastair in the art of torture.

Cain returned to Earth and led the Knights in destroying and butchering. He was, however, still remorseful about his brother's fate and wanted to be human again. In the late 1800s, Cain met a woman, Colette, and fell in love with her. He explained to her that he was a demon, but said he had saved his brother from Lucifer. Colette forgave him for all his sins and thus managed to draw him away from the life he had been roped into.

However, feeling that Colette was leading Cain astray, the Knights of Hell kidnapped Colette and had Abaddon possess her. Furious at what they had done, Cain picked up the First Blade and slaughtered all the Knights of Hell (and all the demons helping them), leaving him even more feared by all demons. He finally found the last one, Abaddon, who was still inside Colette. Abaddon first tried to convince Cain to return to them, but when he refused, taunted Cain about his failures and humanity, then began slowly killing Colette. Enraged, Cain stabbed her, but Abaddon vanished just before, causing Cain to accidentally kill his own wife. Before Colette died, he apologized and promised her he would never kill or mix with demons again.

"First Born"
Over a hundred years later, Dean Winchester and Crowley were hunting for the First Blade to kill Abaddon (who was in the process of usurping Crowley's position as ruler of Hell), and their investigation led them to Cain's home. Now claiming he was retired, Cain was initially reluctant; however, he knew Dean (who was his direct descendant), denied giving him the blade, and told the two to leave. Meanwhile, one of Abaddon's followers managed to track them down and, realizing what they were dealing with, called in Abaddon's army before they progressed.

Dean and Crowley later broke into Cain's home to look for the First Blade, but Cain caught them. Just then, Abaddon's demons arrived. Using his powers, Cain kept them out, but also kept Crowley in, as he was interested in Dean. Cain tested Dean's skills by letting several demons in, and Dean managed to kill them, proving himself.

Cain then revealed what had truly happened all those thousands of years earlier and about Collette before revealing that he did not actually have the First Blade anymore. He did, however, have the Mark and offered it to Dean as, without it, the First Blade would not work. Dean took the Mark of Cain so he could kill Abaddon. Cain then asked Dean to kill him when he had finished because he was tired of immortality.

Cain then vanished and went to Collette's grave, where he apologized to his dearly-departed wife for what he was about to do before returning to his home, where he then opened all the doors and let Abaddon's army in. After banishing Dean and Crowley outside, Cain used his powers to trap the demons inside and then single-handedly killed every last one of them.

"The Executioner's Song"
Unfortunately, doing this caused Cain to loose control of the Mark's blood-lust. Falling after so many centuries, he became convinced that his own bloodline was cursed (it did have the majority of the murderers) and decided it was his job to clean up the mess. Unfortunately, as one of the founders of humanity, that meant he was going to wipe out 10% of the total population. Cain got busy, wiping out several lines. He had gotten to the Tolliver line, killing Tommy Tolliver (a serial killer) and his father (another murderer).

He met Castiel, who found out where he was burying the bodies of his victims, and told the angel about his plans. Castiel tried to protest his plan, but Cain dismissed him, deciding it was for the best. Castiel tried to confront him, but as Castiel wasn't a descendant of his, Cain just left.

Later, it was discovered that Tommy had a son, Austin; since Austin was the last in the Tolliver line, the Winchesters, Castiel, and Crowley knew that Cain would go after him. Dean was forced to ask for the First Blade back from Crowley, as it was the only weapon that could kill him; Crowley agreed, as Dean pretended that the King of Hell was on Cain's list.

Cain arrived and went for Austin, but paused to talk to Castiel, to whom he admitted not all the killers were his and not all of his line were killers, but as they made up the majority of humankind, this was for the best and Austin could go either way; as such, he was going to play it safe. Castiel tried to stop him, but the angel proved no match for Cain, who effortlessly defeated him.

Teleporting into the barn, Cain realized he had been tricked and Austin was an illusion. Recognizing it was magic, he predicted that Crowley was there, then guessed that they had trapped him in a devil's trap. He casually congratulated the Winchesters and Crowley before warning them that it wouldn't hold him for long. They told him it didn't matter, and knowing that Dean was there, Cain asked if he was okay.

Armed with the First Blade, but in danger of losing himself, Dean confronted Cain. The two men talked shortly, with Cain admitting that he had honestly considered giving up and letting Dean kill him when he talked to Castiel; however, he knew if he played along, then Dean would bring him the blade. Dean tried to kill him, but Cain proved to skilled and kept knocking Dean around, the devil's trap barely containing any of his powers.

Even with the Mark's enhancements, Dean was out of his league; Cain, however, figured he was holding back due to fear of losing himself. He told Dean it was impossible not to, and he (Cain) was living proof of this. Overpowering the hunter a final time, Cain took back the First Blade and, feeling its infernal power, took Dean down, planning to kill him.

He admitted to Dean that he really did care about him and explained that Dean was doomed to lose control of the Mark just as he himself had, and would eventually murder Castiel and then Sam, the latter of which would destroy him and leave him a monster; as such, by killing Dean, Cain was sparing him from this fate.

However, at the last minute, Dean managed to grab Cain's own sword and cut his hand off, separating him from the First Blade. The shock of this allowed Cain to regain control. Kneeling before Dean, Cain accepted his fate. Dean took back the First Blade and, before killing him, begged Cain to tell him that it wasn't necessary and there was a way back. Cain told him there wasn't, so Dean sadly fulfilled his promise and killed Cain, giving him the death he had wanted for so long.

Quotes
"Do either of you keep bees? It's very relaxing. They're such noble creatures. And the honey? Well, I keep it right on the comb."

- To Dean and Crowley, "First Born"

"So, what are the King of Hell and a Winchester doing at my house?"

- To Dean and Crowley, "First Born"

"I'm retired. I'm not dead."

- "First Born"

"Well, it's been a pleasure having company, but once a century is enough for me. You can let yourselves out."

- To Dean and Crowley, "First Born"

"You have quite a reputation, Dean. I see the part about you being brave rings true."

- To Dean, "First Born"

"If your friend here could talk, he would tell you that I trained the Knights of Hell. I built that entire demonic order with my own hands, Abaddon included."

- To Dean, "First Born"

"Once again, I admire your bravery. But if you'll excuse me, I have errands to run in town. Goodbye, Dean Winchester. Never return."

- To Dean, "First Born"

"Brave, but impulsive. You truly have lived up to your reputation."

- To Dean, "First Born"

"If you survive, you're welcome to join me for the last meal I will eat in this house before I disappear again. It's the least I can do."

- To Dean, "First Born"

"Since when does the great Dean Winchester ask for help? Well, that doesn't sound like the man I've read about on demon bathroom walls. Maybe you've lost a step. Let's find out."

- To Dean, before letting a couple of demons in to test Dean's skills, "First Born"

"Doing great."

- To Dean while he fights the demons, "First Born"

"I felt connected to you right from the beginning. Kindred spirits, if you will. You and I are very much alike."

- To Dean, "First Born"

"Abel wasn't talking to God; he was talking to Lucifer. Lucifer was gonna make my brother into his pet. I couldn't bear to watch him be corrupted, so I offered a deal: Abel's soul in Heaven for my soul in Hell. Lucifer accepted...as long as I was the one who sent Abel to Heaven. So I killed him. Became a soldier of Hell, a knight."

- To Dean, "First Born"

"I've tried. I've tried, Colette, to see myself as you did. But I know who I am, seen what I am. I know you watch over me still. But I need you to look away now."

- To Colette's grave, "First Born"

"The Mark can be transferred to someone who's worthy. [...] But you have to know with the Mark comes a great burden. Some would call it a great cost. [...] Good luck, Dean. You're gonna to need it."

- To Dean, "First Born"

"You find the blade, kill Abaddon, but make me a promise first. When I call you, and I will call, you come find me and use the Blade on me."

- To Dean, "First Born"

"I've gone by many names in this life. The "Father of Murder" is one of them. And by the state's count, you've taken six lives yourself, Tommy. Although by my count, it's nine."

- To Tommy Tolliver, "The Executioner's Song"

"Oh, come on. You aren't one of those "it wasn't me" type fellas, are you? Because I know you're a killer, just like me."

- To Tommy, "The Executioner's Song"

"Now, I bet you're wondering what I'm doing here. Did I come to punish you, or save you? Well...the truth is, Tommy...I'm here to do both."

- To Tommy, before killing him, "The Executioner's Song"

"These bodies? Just cleaning up a mess I made a long time ago."

- To Castiel after he finds him in a field burying his victims, "The Executioner's Song"

"What can I say? I got the taste back. With Abaddon's army gunning for me, I had to take up arms again, and I liked how it felt."

- To Castiel, "The Executioner's Song"

"Yes. And soon it'll be a genocide. My children, my whole poisoned issue. A lot of them out there right now...killers, fighters, thieves, some more peaceful than others. But they still carry it...the disease. If the Mark wants blood, I'll give it mine."

- To Castiel, "The Executioner's Song"

"At most, I'm culling...one in ten."

- To Castiel, about killing his descendants, "The Executioner's Song"

"I've got time."

- To Castiel, about killing all of his descendants, "The Executioner's Song"

"There is no cure. I'm living proof of that. But don't worry about Dean. I'll get to him, in due time."

- To Castiel, "The Executioner's Song"

"Hello, Dean. At a loss for words, my son? Allow me. This is the part where you tell me it's not too late and I can lay down arms, abandon my mission. "We don't have to fight.""

- To Dean, "The Executioner's Song"

"Oh, I prefer to think I've finally gotten clear. When I made my bargain with Lucifer, killed Abel, I released a stain upon the earth, a stain deeper and far more lasting than mere precedence."

- To Dean, "The Executioner's Song"

"Not all killers are my descendants, and not all my descendants are killers, but enough are, enough for me to know that extinguishing them is the least I owe this world. Can you honestly tell me that humanity's not better off with fewer Tommy’s and fewer Leon's... Fewer you's?"

- To Dean, "The Executioner's Song"

"He could go either way. I prefer to be thorough."

- To Dean, about Austin, "The Executioner's Song"

"That seems a bit weaker than I would expect from you with the Blade. I think you can do better."

- To Dean, "The Executioner's Song"

"You're holding back. [...] What is it, Dean? Do you think if you hold back just enough, you won't succumb, that you'll leave this fight the same as you entered?! Look to my example, boy! There is no resisting the Mark or the Blade. There is only remission and relapse!"

- To Dean, as they fight, "The Executioner's Song"

"I'm afraid you've misunderstood my intentions here, Dean. When your pet angel found my burial site, I thought about ending him and swatting him like a fly. But then I thought about you. Your biggest weakness, the thing I noticed the moment I met you, your courage, your reckless bravado. I let him go, knowing that he would report back to you, knowing you would bring into battle the one thing that can kill me, the one thing I truly want. [...] Oh, it's been too long. That old feeling makes me wonder how I ever had the strength to resist."

- To Dean, before reclaiming the First Blade, "The Executioner's Song"

"This may be hard to believe, in light of what I'm about to do to you, but I care about you, Dean. I truly do. But I know I'm doing you a favor. I'm saving you. [...] From your fate. Has it never occurred to you? Have you never mused upon the fact that you're living my life in reverse? My story began when I killed my brother, and that's where your story inevitably will end."

- To Dean, "The Executioner's Song"

"I will never stop."

- Cain's last words before Dean kills him, "The Executioner's Song"