CHAPTER NINE: A Three Letter Word
Dean tried to not let the sting of Hannah's betrayal show on his face, but by the smug look on Crowley's he could tell he wasn't doing a good job at it.
"Squirrel, you can't honestly act like you're shocked a demon manipulated you." The King said with fake pity, pursing his lips. "Daddy and baby brother knew she was no good. But you…" He trailed off, walking over to the middle Winchester who yanked desperately at the ropes securing his wrists and ankles to the chair, wanting nothing more than to punch Crowley's smug grin off of his face. The King of Hell stopped a foot or so in front of the highly pissed off hunter and with no warning, promptly landed a right hook on his jaw.
Sam and Hannah both cried out at the same time as Dean's head snapped to the side, the demon glancing to the floor sheepishly as hers came out as a muffled protest from the gag while the youngest Winchester eyed her with confusion.
"Looks like Hannah here has let her humanity cloud her emotions, I mean, look at her." The King moved to where he was standing directly behind Dean, his rough hands clamping down on his shoulders as the hunter scowled. "She's practically fuming at the thought of me hurting you."
Hannah's cold, hard eyes locked with Crowley's, the promise of revenge evident in them as she put on a mask of hatred.
Finally having enough, John chimed in. "What do you want, Crowley? I'm assuming it's not to just talk our ears off." He spat, his patience dwindling. "If you're gonna kill us, kill us."
"Kill you?!" Crowley said with exasperation, moving back towards the middle of the square his four captives made. "That'd be a waste of useful resources." He shook his head, a cruel grin pulling at his lips. "No, John. I don't plan on killing you, at least not yet. First, I'm going to make your lives a living Hell." With a snap of his fingers, the eldest Winchester and the King of Hell were gone.
….
It was eerily quiet in the small room as Sam, Dean, and Hannah all waited in silence. Their imaginations were running rampant, the ideas endless of what Crowley could be doing to John.
After a few minutes, the demon finally worked her gag off. Taking deep breaths and composing herself, she brought her guilt-ridden expression to look at Dean.
The middle Winchester completely refused to acknowledge her as he looked at the floor that was suddenly so interesting. Finally, she spoke, her voice soft at first before gaining volume. "Dean, you can't honestly believe I sold you guys out…" She began, trying to hide the pain in her words as the elder hunter continued to avoid her gaze. "I was trying to protect you! Some demons cornered me and I told them that I had you guys taken care of but they must've not believed me…" She stopped, swallowing back tears that she didn't even know she could still shed, cursing the emotions she wished she didn't have any more. "Please… Dean, just look at me."
The short-haired man barely lifted his eyes, but it was enough to give Hannah hope as she plowed forward. "After all we've been through do you really think I would do that?" She finished, hoping to God that the man she had begun to know these past few months still had some faith in her.
"What do you want from me? You're a demon, Hannah. Plain and simple." Dean replied gruffly, effectively tearing Hannah's heart out in one clean swipe. He lowered his gaze once again as he tried to make sure she didn't see the regret and hurt evident in his green eyes.
Sam just sat there dumbfounded, unable to comprehend how Dean was able to just disregard the demon that quickly. Even he could see that Hannah was being genuine. The youngest Winchester just shook his head. He wished he had never shown back up in his brother's life. If he would've just stayed away, they wouldn't be in this mess right now.
…
John tried to blink away the sweat that was dripping into his eyes as he lay strapped to a metal table. When Crowley had snapped his fingers, the elder hunter quickly appeared in a strange room, his wrists and ankles tied down so he was rendered immobile.
He had to admit, Crowley had some flare. But, it was nothing the experienced hunter couldn't handle.
For now.
The King worked quickly, not wanting to waste any of his precious time with the famous John Winchester. Crowley looked at it as an honor, how many demons can say they were able to stick it to the biggest pain in the ass, the man who raised two of the best damn hunter s in the United States.
The former crossroads demon started with the basics, cutting and prodding, seeing how far he could jam the wickedly sharp knife into his abdomen without killing him. When he realized that the most he was going to get out of his latest project was a grunt and clenched teeth, he decided to up the ante.
By taking a play from the Hell playbook, Crowley proceeded with his torturing with the idea he would just make John whole again, not wanting to have to be careful with the man who has sent over half of his demons back to Hell.
He began slicing off pieces of skin, strip by strip, painfully and agonizingly slow, hoping to elicit at least a scream. But, John stood strong until Crowley brought out the big guns.
"You know," The King began, twisting the blade he had sticking out of the hunter's thigh. John squeezed his eyes shut as a groan escaped his lips, his pride keeping him from giving Crowley any satisfaction. "This truly is all your fault." Another twist, this time causing a grunt. "I mean, if you hadn't waltzed back into Dean's life, he wouldn't be in this mess. He'd still be running around with that demon whore, and me none the wiser of his whereabouts." Crowley chuckled, enjoying every minute he had as he yanked the knife out, eyeing it thoughtfully before tossing it casually onto a cart in the small room. "But, you just had to shove your way back into his life because you can't stand the idea that he was fine without you."
John sent a glare with a promise of revenge toward the cruel demon standing over him who was wearing a smirk. Not discouraged, Crowley moved on. "I wonder how well Dean or Sam would do back here, on this same table. Shall I found out…?"
"Don't you dare touch them you son of a bitch!" The hunter raged, pulling at his restraints.
Crowley held up his crimson stained hands in mock surrender as he watched the man with amusement. "Or what, Johnny? You'll kill me?" The King laughed maliciously, shaking his head. "You seem to be a bit… tied up at the moment. Let's see what happens when we change things up."
With another snap of his fingers, John was made whole again and sitting back in the same position he was in before, staring at Sam across the square from him.
"Dad!" The youngest Winchester said gratefully, happy to see his father back and seemingly unharmed.
Crowley sauntered to the middle of the four, dark gazes landing on him from all directions as he placed his hands in his pockets. "Are we having fun yet?"
"Let them go, Crowley." Dean demanded, his hard green eyes locking with the King's.
With a small chuckle, the grizzly man strolled over to the middle Winchester, mischief evident in his eyes. "And why, pray tell, would I do that?"
Dean looked taken aback by the question, not ready with a decent answer before he swallowed. "You can have me, do whatever the hell you want, just let them go." He pleaded, ignoring the cries of protest around him.
Crowley pursed his lips in thought before shaking his head. "See, that doesn't seem worth it to me Squirrel."
"I'll do anything you want!" He growled, getting furious. "You can have my frickin' soul for all I care! You don't need them!"
Crowley's face lit up with interest as he glanced around the room and noted John and Sam's frightened looks. The King considered his options, thinking that if he had Dean Winchester's soul to do with whatever he pleased…
Hannah wouldn't be the only demon in the room.
With a slight nod and a sly grin, Crowley clapped his hands. "I think we have a deal."
"Dean, don't!" Hannah yelled, causing the King to spin around and glare at her. Leaning to where she could see him, the demon went on. "If you let Crowley have your soul, there's no telling what he'll do with it!" She warned, begging him with her eyes to reconsider.
"I'm sorry, is this the same demon who sold you out that you are about to listen to?" The King asked, sounding shocked. "Dean-o, I plan on making your family suffer for the rest of eternity. You can prevent that with just one simple yes." Crowley reminded, his tone persuasive as he watched different emotions play across the middle Winchester's features.
With one almost regretful look towards Hannah, Dean returned his gaze to Crowley.
"Yes."
….
TBC
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