AN: Hi my darlings! Here's another chapter – much earlier than I expected. I may have rushed studying for a test to get this to you, but meh – the things we do for love *things we do for loooove*
I'm in a sing-y/music-y mood today, haha. In fact, if you want to listen to a song that kind of sets a mood for the end of this chapter – try Hide and Seek by Imogen Heap (one of absolute favourite songs of all time)
Enjoy!
Xxx
~Fen~
PS: And I just realised, I hit ten chapters a couple of chapters ago - huzzah! Milestone acheived :) But I digress: enjoy chapter twelve.
Chapter Twelve:
'This?' Athaya quizzed and put a hand on her hip, showing off the fitted black and white zigzag pattern of the fabric that covered her from under the neck to above the knee. 'Really?' She asked doubtfully as she stared at her reflection in the mirror. She didn't like the way it fit her. It was too tight.
'Oh, this I like,' Crowley said from where he sat on a plush, black sofa. Athaya could hear the smile in his voice.
She frowned. 'I dunno…' then looked up at his face reflected in the mirror. 'Oi. Eyes front, soldier,' she snapped as she saw where his gaze was directed. It certainly wasn't at her face.
'I'm just appreciating the view, Princess,' Crowley said honestly and Athaya glared at him.
'I bet you are. But fortunately,' she smiled sweetly. '…not for much longer.'
'And why is that?' Crowley folded his arms and raised an eyebrow.
'I hate this dress.' Athaya said abruptly. 'It's too – '
'Tight?' Crowley interjected. 'My sentiments exactly.'
She stared at him for a moment, confused. 'But you said…'
'I'm playing with you, Princess.' He chuckled. Then he sighed, 'Truth is…you look gorgeous in all of them. You'd look sexy in a potato sack.'
Athaya couldn't help the smile that sprung to her face. 'Ha!...Thanks,' she laughed and walked over to sit next to him.
'I mean it, Princess. And I don't give compliments lightly.' Crowley slid his gaze towards her without turning and Athaya leant her head back on the couch and closed her eyes.
'Well then, thank you,' she said sincerely and smiled to herself. Whatever had happened earlier…whatever her dream was…it had drained her. She was exhausted.
'How are you feeling?' Crowley asked and Athaya sighed.
'Tired, but okay. How's the arm?'
'Completely healed,' Crowley said happily and then grew suspiciously silent. 'This isn't bad either,' Athaya heard him say and she opened her eyes to look down. She gasped as she saw she was in nothing but lacy, black underwear.
'Crowley!' Athaya shrieked and he laughed as she slapped the demon on the arm, outraged.
'Don't worry, Princess. It's all in jest.' He blinked, sliding his eyes down her body and Athaya followed his gaze, gasping once again, as this time she found a beautiful black dress covering her. It was as dark as pitch, and Athaya felt like she could get lost staring at the velveteen material. It didn't seem solid. More like she could fall into the colour.
'What is this?' Athaya gasped. 'This isn't a dress. This is a ball gown!' She jumped up off the seat to make sure she didn't crease the fabric. She marvelled at how the strapless black gown tapered at her middle and then sprung outwards, falling to the ground in graceful folds of dark fabric. When she looked closer, she could see detailed embroidery over the bodice trail out across her waist, following the pleats of the skirt downwards like vines.
'Now this, I definitely like,' came Crowley's voice from right next to her ear. Athaya jumped slightly, but didn't stop smiling as Crowley took her elbow and led her over to the mirror to see her reflection.
What Athaya found staring back was a tall, pale beauty.
Her hair had been piled on top of her head in a dark, messy crown, revealing her long neck and slender shoulders. She was bare of all jewellery, except for a necklace.
Her necklace.
The metal rose hung just under her collar-bone, and Athaya spied a matching flower tucked into her hair at the base of the bun. She lifted the hem of her dress and found a pair of tall, black heels. If she'd thought she was tall before, now she was a giant. She towered almost a head above Crowley.
Definitely not her usual attire.
'Crowley, this dress is stunning,' Athaya whispered in slight reverence.
'I think it's more dependent on the woman who's wearing it,' he said simply and Athaya blushed. She grinned to herself as she thought of Chelsea's reaction to the gown. One of absolute shock. She could almost picture the conversation.
Chelsea.
Athaya stumbled slightly and Crowley caught her waist as Athaya properly remembered her dream, and what had happened. How it wasn't a dream. She turned to him with wide eyes and felt the beginnings of panic settle in her stomach. Crowley noticed and his grip on her tightened.
'Princess, what's wrong?' He asked, nudging her shoulder slightly.
Athaya shook her head 'I can't stay. I have to help my friend,' Athaya kicked the heels off and looked for her mobile before realising she didn't have it. It was back at Bobby's house, along with all her other possessions.
'Hey. Calm down. Talk to me, Athaya.' Crowley caught her hand and held it gently, running his thumb along her wrist. Athaya paused and spun to face him.
'Chelsea's going to die unless I save her. I saw it happen, Crowley.' Athaya struggled to keep the panic out of her voice. She looked down at the splendorous garment she was dressed in and shook her head. 'I can't believe I got distracted…' she pulled at the dress and swallowed. 'I feel sick.'
'It's okay, Princess. I'm sure the others will take care of it. Don't worry yourself.' Crowley soothed.
Athaya pulled her hand from his grip. 'Don't worry myself?' she exclaimed, taking a step back. 'Sam and Dean don't even know she's in danger! Of course I'm worried! She's my friend. In case – while you've been spying on me – you hadn't noticed: my friends are in limited supply. Besides…It's my job to fix this kind of thing. I've got to go back and help.'
'I think you're forgetting a very key element about the thing you're hunting, here Princess. Blakely goes after girls reminiscent of Charlotte– and you fit the profile perfectly. If do go back and save Chelsea, he's just going to focus on the nearest target: you.'
'You don't know that. I can't leave her!' Athaya felt another headache building up and the sick feeling in her stomach intensified, like an acid was eating away through her body. She stumbled once again and steadied herself on the sofa. Crowley took a step forward, but Athaya shook her head.
'I'm alright. I'm fine. Just a headache. Let's just go back, so I can tell them about her.' Athaya secretly had no intention of just telling Sam and Dean about Chelsea. She had every intention of helping them kill the spirit. But Crowley didn't need to know that. Especially when he seemed so adamant that she not participate.
'Not going to happen, Princess. If you think I'm stupid enough to take you back, think again. I know you'll just have your little friends tie me up while you go off ghost hunting. I know how you work. ' Crowley said matter-of-factly and his face grew closed, his earlier relaxed stance melting away to be replaced by one of cold, businesslike indifference. 'I'm not going to risk you.'
Athaya laughed. But it wasn't a happy laugh. 'No. It's not up to you. It's none of my business if you don't want to help, but this is my responsibility. There's no way in hell I'm sitting this out. I don't want your help. Just your cooperation. So take me back. Now.' Her words were strong, but Athaya stiffened as her headache ripped through her skull, intensifying with every second. She grimaced through it and took a step towards Crowley, who looked on the verge of anger.
'I think you'll find that it's most certainly up to me. In case you've forgotten, I own your soul, Princess. That makes you my business.' There was a dangerous tone to his words now, and Athaya realised she'd forgotten that the person standing before her was a demon. And not one who had a history of nice-ness.
'Listen Crowley – ' Athaya began.
'No. You listen,' Crowley strode up to her and grabbed her arm. 'I made you a promise, and I've managed to keep that promise for eight years. I'm not planning on breaking our deal any time soon. So just let this problem sort itself out. You've got three perfectly capable hunters back there able to destroy this thing, and none of them are actual targets!' His volume increased and Athaya felt her insides go cold. He was starting to scare her, but she didn't let it show.
'Let go of me, now,' Athaya hissed. 'If you won't take me back, I'll find my own way.'
Crowley laughed coldly. 'Good luck with that, sweetheart, but I have no intention of letting you go gallivant off to get yourself killed.' Before Athaya could say another word, he transported them to another room, a bedroom of modest size with a black wardrobe and bed. Athaya lurched away from him and landed on the bed sheets roughly. She straightened up and glared at him.
'I don't understand why you're doing this!' Athaya cried.
'And I don't understand why you're so intent on getting yourself killed for just a girl!' Crowley snarled, pacing across the room where he locked the door and pocketed a key.
'Oh, really? Very mature,' Athaya snapped. 'You're going to lock me in a room. I'm not sixteen any more, Crowley.'
'Well then stop acting like it, you foolish girl,' Crowley growled and strode over to her. 'You're making me do this.'
'I find it very hard to see how I'm making you do anything. One would think that the king of the crossroads would have a mind of his own.' As soon as she said the words, she regretted them.
Crowley's scowl darkened and he froze. 'Fine. If that's the way you want it. I'll be back when I've developed a…mindof my own, as you put it,' he said with a tight smile.
Shit. Now you've done it. 'Wait, Crowley, I didn't mean that – '
'Oh, no. Don't you worry about me. You're obviously more worried about yourself. Or perhaps you're still worried about this Chelsea girl. Take your pick.' And with that, he vanished, leaving Athaya by herself in the dark bedroom.
She ran over to the door and pounded on it, wrenching the doorknob until she was sure it would fall off. It didn't. Athaya growled in frustration and collapsed on the bed, staring down at the gown that Crowley had dressed her in. It was so beautiful, but Athaya had let herself get caught up in Crowley's splendour and now her friend was in even more danger. She regretted everything she'd just said to Crowley, not only because now she couldn't help Chelsea, but because none of it was true.
Athaya knew Crowley cared about her, and she'd gone and thrown it in his face. That didn't stop what he'd done from being a dick move, but she understood that he was just trying to keep their deal intact: that he'd protect her.
She couldn't see how she was going to get out of the room, so Athaya decided to try and sleep her growing headache off.
She made a small sound of helpless frustration and tore the clips from her hair, letting it tumble down her back, after which she ripped the dress off and walked over to the wardrobe to find a pair of black silk pyjamas folded neatly in a draw underneath. Of course. Everything's black with you, she thought bitterly to herself.
She slipped them on and then crawled into the bed, turning so the black dress was no longer in her view, discarded and crumpled on the floor. Her headache had reached tear-inducing heights and Athaya rolled over to press her face into the pillow sadly.
Sleep did not come easily.
AN: Please don't hate me *hides behind laptop*
There was quite a bit of drama in this chapter – which was super fun to write, btw – and now things are sticky…however – don't worry! I'm sure it will all be fine ;)
The next chapter will be a little shorter (but this one was slightly longer, so I think of it as compensation.) Don't forget to review! It makes me super happy and motivates me to write more :P
Xxx
~Fen~