Chapter One.

Hell Ain't A Bad Place To Be.

CROW AGENCY, MONTANA

Oshea Blackwood could suddenly breathe. She began coughing as fresh air- air untainted by the stench of burning flesh, blood and sulfur- poured into her lungs. Her lashes fluttered over her weak eyes, and she blinked in the dim light issuing from behind the crimson shade of the lamp on the nightstand by the bed. As her vision began to clear, she looked about the room, taking in the dark wallpaper that blanketed the walls, the dark carpet, the blood-red sheets and comforter of the bed she was sprawled upon. She trembled violently, curling her arms around her waist as she turned herself onto her side and drew her knees to her chest. What was this, some kind of new torture? She coughed violently and brought her hands to her throat. It felt like it was on fire. Stretching out her legs, she pushed herself to her feet and staggered drunkenly toward a doorway at the end of the room. She fell against the doorframe and sank to her knees, crawling forward and grasping the edge of the counter. Pulling herself up, she leaned her elbows against the counter, reaching over and turning on the faucet. She pushed her face under the faucet, closing her eyes as the frigid water poured onto her skin and into her cracked lips. After gulping at the liquid for what seemed like ages, she lifted her head and looked into the mirror. Water dripped down her cheeks and chin, dripping into the sink. She tilted her head, staring at her reflection; she blinked and her eyes suddenly became a deep red. She screamed and jerked back, through the doorway, stumbling back into the room.

"Well, hello again doll. Fancy meeting you here."

She whirled around, still trembling. "C-Crowley?" She whispered, her throat a bit raw from lack of use.

"Ah, so you do remember me. Can't blame you, darling," He shrugged. "A face like this is hard to forget," He said with a wink. "Well, let's get right to the questions, then, I'm sure you have plenty."

She looked around the room again then back to Crowley. "Yes, I… is this real? Am I really back? And… how did this happen?"

"Yes, yes, and how it happened, not important," He replied with a shrug. "Point is, you, my dear, have been hand picked to work as a crossroad demon, right by my side. My apprentice, I suppose you could say. Apparently, someone down there thought you were special, so they've arranged a deal. They bring you back, you get a hundred souls, and then we return you to your pathetic, self-destructive, mortal life."

She stared at him, her brows furrowing deeply. "I'm… I-I'm a crossroads demon?"

Crowley rolled his eyes and then stared at her incredulously. "By George I think she's got it." He leaned against the wall, taking a moment to glance down at the iPhone in his hand, then tucking it safely away in his suit. "And it's only temporary, by the way. You're not really a demon. The eyes, that's just a neat trick. We can't have you prancing around crossroads without you looking the part, am I right? But you will have the ability to make deals… after some training."

She slowly walked over to the bed, feeling her strength returning, and sat down on the edge of it. "This… is a lot to take in." She said quietly. "I… I just can't believe that I'm back after all this time." She shook her head, pausing before she looked up at him. "Wait… one hundred souls? You… you mean to get back I'm going to have to take people's souls?"

"What in the bloody hell do you think I do for a living, sell Girl Scout Cookies?" He said, raising his voice a little. "Yes. A hundred deals, a hundred souls, and you're home free. But if you don't want to do this, you don't have to…"

She flinched as he raised his voice. Her eyes widened. "What? And go back into the pit? No, no!" She screamed, her hands shaking. "I will not go back, not again." She could almost hear the screams of the people being tortured, her own screams, the smell of burning flesh and hair, and the pain, the unending pain. Though it had only been about a year in the mortal world, it had been a lifetime in Hell. "I'm not going back."

"Guess we better get started then."