AN: What's this? Regular updates? Gosh, I'm good ;)

Thanks for reviewing and all that jazz – DON'T EVER STOP. It makes me write faster and more, so, ya know, if you want longer chapters/faster chapters, review review review!

You're all fabulous, and I'm glad you all like the story. It might have felt like a while since anything has happened (I dunno, it's different when you're the one writing) – but I reckon we're about to come to some key stuff in the next couple of chapters. Like, serious progress stuff. I think. :D

Enjoy!

Xxx

~Fen~

Chapter Thirty-Five:

One hour later:

Athaya walked out into the bedroom, fully clothed now, and froze.

Sitting in a very relaxed position on the bed was Crowley. Not moving. Her necklace slowly burning a hole through his chest.

She gave a small yelp of fear and surprise and ran over to him, reaching for the necklace to pull it from his neck. Just when she was about to grab it, Crowley's hand snaked up to grasp her wrist. His eyes opened to display a smouldering darkness, and Athaya felt a hot fire shoot throughout her body.

'What do you think you're doing?' he asked, as if discussing the weather.

'I'm taking this necklace off you, you idiot! Why didn't you?' she exclaimed, trying to take it off, but Crowley's hand trapped hers, stopping her in her tracks.

'Isn't this what you wanted?' he asked innocently, and Athaya stopped worrying. Her eyes narrowed, and she let go of the chain, although Crowley kept her hands pinned to his chest.

'You smug bastard. This is all a game to you, isn't it?' she asked.

'If by "this", you mean the irresistible, endearing, sexy game you want to play, then yes. You accepting my hellhound is not,' he said fiercely, and pulled the necklace from around his neck, sitting up properly. Wordlessly, he fastened the necklace around Athaya's neck, his hands barely touching her, but where they did brush against her skin, they left a warm path which made her shiver. 'And if this is how you want to play it, fine. You accept the hellhound, I'll leave you alone. Sex-wise. I have no intentions of not talking to you. I'm not planning on ever doing that again anytime soon,' he said with a dark look.

What? Hold on.

She was supposed to be the one in control here. She was the one not letting him have his way. When did the tables turn? Now she wanted him, and it was like he wouldn't touch her. He walked a few steps away, and she realised that in the past few seconds, he'd produced a suit for himself, and was now completely clothed. He gestured to the hall. 'I do believe your hellhound is waiting,' he announced grandly.

Athaya couldn't keep the look of frustrated annoyance from her face. Crowley saw it and grinned. 'I thought we'd take the stairs, like normal people.'

Silently, resignedly, Athaya walked through the bedroom door, unable to escape the feeling that she was losing this game of theirs. In the hallway, she stared at the painting opposite her, a roman frieze of two lovers chasing each other. She glared at it, trying to bore a hole in it with her mind. However, the painting didn't spontaneously combust, instead, their smiles looked as if they were laughing at her.

'So. What are you going to call her?' Crowley asked, and Athaya glared at him. Hey, it wasn't his fault she'd embellished this deliciously wicked game of his. He was having more fun than he'd had in ages.

She'd thought she'd had the upper hand, and while wearing her necklace might have hurt for an hour or so – he still had singe-marks on his chest – it had been worth it to see the look of worry and surprise when she'd come out of the bathroom. It proved that she did care, despite her withdrawing from him just when things had started getting interesting. This was a game he could get used to. And then to see the realisation dawn on her face when she discovered that it was he who had the upper hand…

Never play a player.

'What am I going to call her?' Athaya echoed. 'I dunno. Fluffy the Soul-Eating Hellhound? Do hellhounds usually have names?'

Crowley let mock-hurt show on his face. 'You wound me. Of course they have names.'

'Well what's this one's name?' she asked. 'Wait. No. I changed my mind. Where even is she?' Athaya inquired with a worried glance.

'She's right next to me. I keep forgetting you can't see her,' Crowley admitted.

'I'm only human, Crowley,' she rolled her eyes and then frowned. 'But I guess I don't even have that anymore…' she said softly, and he felt her sadness from across the room. Something wasn't quite right…

Before he could ask, though, Athaya put her hands on her hips. 'Alright. Lay it on me,' she said with a tired sigh.

'Lay what on you?' he asked with a laugh.

'Whatever mojo you're going to use to let me see her,' she said with a smile.

'Mojo?' Crowley inquired. 'To what "mojo" are you referring to, Princess?'

She glared at him.

'Oh, you mean that mojo,' he said quickly. 'Of course. How idiotic of me. Come here,' he commanded, enjoying toying with her, even if it was only a bit. Athaya started towards him, but then stopped. 'What is it?' he asked.

'Will I…Will I be able to see your true face?' she asked softly, as if the thought had only just dawned on her. Crowley felt a spark of irritation that he hadn't thought of that himself, earlier. He was glad she mentioned it, otherwise she would have been in for a very interesting surprise.

'Of course not. I don't want my princess to run screaming now, do I?' he jibed good-naturedly, but then felt a sliver of doubt settle in his heart. She probably would run screaming if she could see his true face.

'I'd never run screaming,' she said honestly, those grey eyes of hers wide with emotion. 'Never ever.'

Crowley smiled. 'Like I said. You always know what to say…' he tilted his head to the side. 'If you were to have a tattoo, where would you have it?' he asked rather suddenly, and saw surprise register on Athaya's face.

'Uh…' she looked lost.

'Haven't you ever thought about it?' he inquired.

She smiled nervously, and her face flushed beautifully. 'I don't have to think. I already have one,' she said with a small voice, and didn't look at him.

What? I didn't see any tattoo… 'Are you sure, Princess? Because I've gotta say, I've developed a pretty intimate knowledge on the subject that is your body in the last few weeks, and I didn't see any tattoo.' Even as he spoke, she got redder. What was so embarrassing?

'Well, you probably weren't paying much attention to my feet, were you, now?' she smiled.

Crowley paused for a moment. 'No. I can see why I missed that,' he admitted with a nod. 'Well. Princess, you've simply got to spill the details now. What's got you so hot and flustered? What did you do? Get a tattoo of a demon on your ankle?' he said jokingly. 'You didn't get a tattoo of a demon on your ankle, did you?' he inquired suspiciously, narrowing his eyes at her.

'Not exactly,' she said with a small smirk. 'You know how they say you'll regret your tattoos fifty years later? Well, I'm regretting it now.'

'Princess, I simply mustknow. What is it?' He couldn't help the grin that graced his face.

Athaya shifted her feet nervously. 'It's nothing,' she said elusively.

Crowley shook his head. 'Oh no. You don't get to drop a hint like that and then say "it's nothing". Shoes off. Now,' he commanded.

'No!' Athaya protested, her eyes flashing. Oh. So she was back to this game, was she?

Alright. Bring it on.

'Princess, don't tempt me. Because I will come over there and remove them for you.'

He saw her eyes widen and smiled as what must have been a hundred innuendos go through her brain. It was so very easy to get under her skin.

He shook his head slowly. 'No. Seriously, I'm only playing, Princess. Come over here so I can link the two of you,' he said seriously, beckoning with a hand. 'I don't bite,' he coaxed. 'Actually, that's a blatant lie, but you already knew that,' he added. 'How's your neck?' he asked playfully, and she blushed again. He loved it when she did that.

'My neck…is fine,' she said slowly, walking over to him cautiously. 'But I really do think we should concentrate now.'

'That's what I've been trying to tell you.' Crowley gave an exasperated sigh. Once again, he beckoned, but this time, seemed to achieve better results. Hesitantly, Athaya took a few steps towards him before pulling up short. 'Now what is it?' he asked, no less exasperated than before. Athaya pouted grumpily at him and crossed her arms.

'Where is it?' she asked suspiciously, refusing to go any closer to him.

'She's right next to you. Honestly, Princess, anyone would think you were afra – '

Athaya gave a shriek and darted over to him, grabbing his arm and pulling him between her and where the hellhound stood. With a hesitant smile, Crowley peered down at her. 'You're…not really afraid of her, are you?' he asked, the truth dawning on him. He'd only meant it as a joke when he'd first mentioned it, but this would explain why she was so opposed to the idea.

'No,' she said, far too swiftly. 'Of course not. I'm a hunter. I hunt things. Like hellhounds. I eat hellhounds for breakfast,' she said with a frown which Crowley suspected was meant to be frightening, but looked more…well…frightened.

'Well. There's a surprise,' he murmured more to himself than Athaya. 'This is why you've been so reluctant to accept her, isn't it?' He gently detangled her arms from his own, and lifted her chin. 'I would never let her hurt you, you know that, right?' he reassured softly, and she nodded.

'Of course I know that…I just…don't like them. What they symbolise,' she said vaguely.

'And what do they symbolise?' Crowley asked. He felt as though he were talking to a small child, trying to coax an answer from a stubborn girl. Well. The that was at least half true.

'Death, deals, demons, four "D's",' she said with a slight smile. Crowley was glad she was smiling, despite her fear. He loved her smile.

'Nice alliteration, Princess,' he congratulated, and then tilted his head to the side. 'But I promise you won't regret this. And I'll try to keep if to two out of the Four Deadly D's.'

'Oh?' Athaya inquired, mimicking his head movement, tilting her head to the side like a bird.

'Deals and demons. No death or damnation for you, love.' Crowley pressed a soft kiss to her forehead, and so consequently missed the sad look that passed over her face. When he straightened, her face was the same.

'Alright,' she said softly, so quiet that he almost didn't hear. 'I accept your hellhound.'

'And don't you just sound thrilled,' Crowley joked with a smile. Thankfully, she returned it, and he glanced to his left, where the female hellhound was sitting. They dog really was one of his best. Well trained, obedient, a killer when necessary…although there was one fatal flaw.

She was utterly, completely good.

Crowley had held high hopes for the creature – one sired by his best and most ruthless hellhounds, she'd meant to be a merciless killer, ready and able to drag damned souls to Hell at a moment's notice.

Instead, she was good.

Underneath all the hellhoundishness, the animal had a heart of gold. He'd even seen her point blank refuse to kill a human once, letting them escape, and so he'd had to send another, more brutal hellhound after the promised soul instead, giving them a false hope that perhaps they could escape. The female hellhound had been about to be retired – in every sense of the word – and it had made Crowley sad that one of them should die because it felt compassion. But that was before he'd met Athaya.

After their brief encounter when she was a girl, Crowley had realised that perhaps there was a use for the creature after all, and had kept her around. Perhaps he'd seen something reflected in the hellhound, in himself. He'd shown compassion for the young Athaya, let her make a deal, and now look where they were. Lovers. A human and a demon. Perhaps the hellhound could get something out of a relationship with Athaya too. The woman had a way of taking twisted things and turning them into something else. Because that's what Crowley was. Was being the operative word. He hadn't felt twisted in a while.

'So.' Crowley refocused, bringing his thoughts back to the present. 'Where would you like it?'

'Like what?' Athaya asked, confused. Apparently she'd just been watching him silently as his mind whirled.

'The mark.'

'What mark?'

'The one we were just discussing. It lead to our conversation about tattoos, yes? Ringing any bells?' Crowley asked, tilting his head to the side.

'You didn't get to that Crowley. You got distracted.'

'Oh, I was distracted?' he inquired incredulously. 'It's not my fault if you're so distracting, Princess.'

Athaya smiled. 'So I'm distracting, am I? Distracting enough to – '

'No.'

Crowley could practically see her mind whirling, struggling to figure out what he meant. She hadn't finished her sentence, after all. He meant: "No, not enough to stop me from giving you a hellhound," but perhaps that hadn't been what she was about to ask.

'No, what?' she inquired, but Crowley shook his head.

'I guess we'll never know. Neither of us finished our train of thought.'

She pulled face and rolled her eyes. 'Fine. Here,' she pointed to a spot on her ribcage, under her left arm. 'That's where I'd get a tattoo. Another one, anyway.'

'You sure?' Crowley inquired, and Athaya nodded. 'Alright, take your shirt off,' he said, gauging her reaction carefully. No expression passed over her face, and he had to suppress a smile. So they were still playing this game? She was playing harder to get than he'd thought possible.

Swiftly, Athaya complied, lifting her jumper over her head to reveal a simple black bra. One that Crowley had chosen for her. Black eyes met grey, and he could see the hints of a smile hiding beneath Athaya's stony-faced expression.

Damn. She's going to be the death of me.

Crowley slowly turned her, one hand on her waist as the other lifted her left arm. This time, Athaya couldn't stop the smile from spreading over her face. 'See something you like?' she asked sweetly, and he glared at her, momentarily looking up from the smooth skin that covered her rib cage. He'd been trying to focus on the task at hand. Not her. Not her.

'Don't push it, Princess. I'm about to cast a spell. Wouldn't it be unfortunate if what was meant to be a binding spell between a hellhound and human ended up being something that turned you into a toad?'

Athaya rose an eyebrow. 'A toad? You can do that?' she asked doubtfully.

'A hellhound then,' he threatened. Her face paled and he regretted his words immediately. 'I wouldn't turn you into a hellhound, Athaya,' he said quickly. 'I promise.'

She regained some of her composure and smiled. She leant forward and kissed him on the lips softly. It was over so fast, Crowley had no time to process it before she was gone again. 'I thought there wasn't supposed to be any – '

'Hush,' Athaya said softly, and held a finger to his lips. 'You were casting a spell, no?'

He narrowed his eyes at her and she lowered her hand. 'Indeed. And incidentally, I could turn you into a toad. Son of a witch and all that.'

'Really?' she inquired, curious, but Crowley just nodded evasively. The past was the past. He'd leave it at that.

'Yes. Now you hush, because I'm trying to concentrate.' He once again turned his focus to her side and put a hand on either side of the spot she'd pointed to, his fingers splaying across her stomach and back. She rested her lifted arm on his shoulder and he closed his eyes, murmuring something vaguely Latin and her a small intake of breath from Athaya. Once he was finished, he opened his eyes. 'Sorry,' he apologised. 'Should have warned you, it might feel a bit hot.'

'No kidding,' she growled, moving her hand to rub the spot. 'Feels like you branded me.'

Before she could touch it, however, Crowley's own hand snagged hers. 'Don't touch it. At least for a while. And, in a way, I did. Hellfire will do that,' he said with a shrug.

'Hellfire?' she inquired, and cast a worried look at the spot under her arm. 'That's…interesting.'

'Isn't it? The symbol represents a connection, just in case you were wondering,' Crowley explained, and Athaya peered at it with a suspicious glare.

'Right. A circle. With a ring of spikes around it. Very subtle. Doesn't remind me of demons at all,' she said sarcastically. 'Is it supposed to be that funny red colour?' she inquired.

'Brand, remember, darling?' he reminded with a smile and saw her cheeks flush. 'What? What is it?' he inquired.

'Oh, nothing,' she murmured softly. 'I just…You called me darling. It…doesn't matter,' she trailed off, looking away from him. Curious, he lifted her chin so she looked back to him.

'It obviously does. Have I not called you darling before? I call everyone darling.' Crowley was slightly confused. He did call everyone darling. That was what he did.

'Not me,' she said with a shrug. 'Maybe once. Twice, tops. And that was before…us.'

Us? The word made Crowley feel strange. He felt what he now recognised as fear spark at the use of the term. "Us" was big. "Us' meant commitment. Evidently the concern showed on his face, because Athaya put her hand over his.

'Sorry. Forget about it. It doesn't matter,' she said lightly, but he could hear the strain in her voice. Because of him.

'No,' he said, surprised that his voice was hoarse. 'It's me. I just…It's strange. I have no problem thinking about the two of us together, but then as soon as any term that implies…commitment comes along, I just…freeze.' He could hardly believe himself. He was being so open. He realised that he wanted to be open. He wanted to have someone to talk to. 'It's what happened when you talked to Dean.' Ugh, Dean. Even the name of the hunter made his insides twist with jealousy. With him, Athaya might've had a chance at a normal life. No such luck when your chosen partner was a demon.

'Hey. Dean isn't a factor here. You are. So…thank you for telling me,' Athaya smiled, and tilted her head. 'I know why you're scared. Commitment…I can't even begin to think what it must be for a demon. Wouldn't it be one of the perks of being a demon? Not having to commit to people? And along I waltz, convincing you to make a deal with me and throwing the proverbial spanner in the works.' She looked sadly at the ground, and Crowley almost laughed. She felt guilty about making him feel commitment? There were so many things wrong with the world they occupied.

'But you are a lovely spanner,' he murmured, and wrapped his arms around her bare waist. 'Are you sure we have to keep doing this?' he asked, referring to the game of chastity they were playing. 'I don't know if you've noticed, but you're particularly endearing to me when you psychoanalyse me.'

She frowned slightly. 'I thought people were supposed to dislike psychoanalysing…'

'I'm not people. Perhaps you should be a psychiatrist,' he suggested.

'Nah. Got too many issues for that job. Being a hunter will do that to a girl,' she said with a sigh, and leant her forehead against his. 'If I'm being completely honest, I'm struggling a little bit too.' She winked at him. 'But you're the one who wanted to give me a hellhound, so…'

Crowley gave and exasperated sigh. She wasn't going to forgive him easily for that one. Speaking of which… 'If that's how you feel, then I implore to you look to your right.'

Athaya glanced next to her and gave a shriek.

Holy fucking shit, there's a hellhound right there. Right there, right next to me.

Her grip on Crowley tightened momentarily before she shoved him away. 'Don't do that,' she snapped at him, crossing her arms defensively. 'You know I'm scared of them. I didn't even know it was there. It's so quiet.'

'If you keep calling her an "it", we're going to have to have a conversation about hellhound rights,' Crowley threatened, and managed to gain a smile from her.

'Ugh. Fine.' She turned to the beast and studied it through narrowed eyes. It – no, she – was quite large, sitting, with her head above waist height. Athaya could see the muscle that the creature had, bulging in a display of obvious strength, black clipped fur covered the hellhound, shining with an eerie blue-ish quality. She looked…something like a Doberman Pinscher. But not. There was something fundamentally different about her appearance. Athaya couldn't quite pinpoint what it was. But what she wasn't…was scary. Despite her previous protests, Athaya felt no immediate fear of the hellhound.

On its left side, just along the ribcage, Athaya glimpsed a reddish symbol, identical to the one that was on her side. Huh. So I guess we're linked then.

She froze, staring at the hellhound, while it stared at her. It had big, black eyes, and Athaya was briefly reminded of Crowley, although she pushed the thought aside. It was a hellhound. She didn't want to associate happy thoughts with it.

Suddenly, a loud thumping sound started, and Athaya jumped. She glanced around, trying to figure out what it was, and turned to Crowley in question when a movement caught the corner of her eye.

It was the hellhound's tail.

Her tail had started wagging, and was now thumping against the ground loudly. Athaya stared suspiciously at the creature, and felt a frown creep over her face. Slowly, she turned to Crowley.

'Is this a joke?' she asked, carefully guarding her words. Crowley had the good grace to look slightly embarrassed.

'Listen, she might not look like a ferocious soul collecting monster, but when it really comes down to it – '

'She's lovely,' Athaya said without thinking. She liked dogs. Always had. She'd had Felix when she was younger, and was reminded of him briefly. He would have passed away by now, probably. He must have been at least ten years old when she last saw him. The thought saddened her, and she tilted her head. 'Surely this isn't what all hellhounds are like?' she inquired. Crowley shook his head.

'Correct. This one is an anomaly, if you will. She's…good. She once pointedly refused to drag a soul to Hell. After that, she was supposed to be retired,' he explained.

'Retired?' Athaya asked, feeling a nasty twinge in her stomach. 'As in…'

'Put down, yes. There's no room for anomalies in Hell's workforce. Or, that's what I used to think. I stopped thinking that after I met you. Figured the hound might be some use further along the track.'

Athaya glanced over the hellhound, assessing her. 'I guess so. Does she have a name?'

'No. Not for several years, anyway.'

'Do I get to name her?' Athaya asked, despite knowing the answer. She just wanted to double check. She felt like an idiot for overreacting so much, and actually found herself sending the creature a smile. At this, the thumping increased in tempo and Athaya laughed.

'Of course you do. Any ideas?'

'Uh…No. Something…normal. She's actually…' Athaya hadn't realised it, but she'd taken a step closer to the hellhound. 'She's gorgeous. Like, in a super badass way, but still…There's something soft about her. I dunno. What's a good name for a gentle hellhound? Something ordinary, I think.'

'It's your call, Princess,' Crowley shrugged, and she closed her eyes for a moment.

'Rachel. Belle. Bridgette. Sasha. Juliet.' She listed random names that came to mind. On the last name, Athaya smiled.

'What?' Crowley inquired. 'You're smiling.'

She laughed. 'I like Juliet. I was just thinking…Juliet the Hellhound. It seems like a bit of an oxymoron, don't you reckon? Aside from the fact that they're all oxymorons, really…'

'Well, she isan oxymoron. The merciful hellhound.'

Athaya barked a laugh. At this, the hellhound – Juliet – also barked deeply, but a proper bark, sending a shiver through Athaya. It wasn't bad. Just a powerful bark that reminded her what the hellhound was capable of. Funnily enough, now knowing the creature's past, Athaya felt less frightened, less apprehensive. There was still a hesitance there – make no mistake – but she felt that in time she might be able to overcome it. Maybe.

As if on cue, Juliet's ears pricked up and she barked once more in warning. Athaya spun to find Crowley right behind her, about to wrap his arms around her as he snuck up behind her back. She smiled. 'I could get used to this,' she said as she .

Crowley sent a glare at the hellhound. 'Traitor,' he growled, but there was a smile in his voice. He leant down to press a soft kiss to Athaya's cheek and she laughed.

'The merciful hellhound, the loving demon and the soul-selling human. What a team we make,' Athaya grinned.

AN: So…you like? Please please review, and that means new/shy/any other people too! I don't bite, and would love to chat about the story, if you're interested (though I can't give too much away :D)

…Although I'd probably tell you all my secrets if you offered me Mark Sheppard as a trade ;)

Y'all are amazing, so don't stop!

Also: how do you think Crowley's going? Am I getting his character right? Yay or nay? Is there something I can work on? I feel like he'd still be a bit apprehensive about their relationship (not the physical side – duh, he's still a demon ;) – more the emotional). Although he's kinda accepted the "l" word (that's "love" btw) and so now the "u" word ("us") has arisen and he's back to thinking about what it means to be a demon, and what it means to be a human. I meant, let's be honest. Compatibility isn't something that comes to mind when the two species meet, yeah?

ALSO DID YOU GET MY JULIET REFERENCE?

Yeah? Juliet the hellhound for the win? ;)

Hope you liked this chapter!

Xxx

~Fen~