Bardic's Descant

The logic bits didn't bother my all that much, Zaz. I've always figured the salt thing (cue random explainer, here!) went back to why salt supposedly could block demons and ghosts: its purity. Salt mixed with anything else wouldn't be pure, and thus salt in food (or iodized table salt, for that matter) wouldn't be a deterrent. Demon giving birth in a basement was, to me, just a means for the demon to ensure that no one would intervene. The demon was the typical arrogant type that discounted any chance Julia could break free. And Cas snaffling the knife, well; he's still got some angelic powers. My curiosity was more why Castiel was able to keep Jesse's parents asleep when he really wanted them to wake up.

I like your speculation on gods and demon spawn, and the reminder about Merlin. Fun things to think about ...