~Elizabeth age 2~
Elizabeth is awake in bed; hugging her doll and trying to sleep even with the sound of thunder keeping her awake but she is a princess so she can't just run into her parents' room to sleep with them, they won't like it. She whimpers softly while closing her eyes tightly as the storm rage on the outside of her window and only opened them when she felt something on her bed, hoping that it is an adult who has come to comfort her.
She opened her eyes and came face to face with a snake that is bigger than her; curled up and looking down at her with its yellow eyes. She is afraid but she stares back at the snake and tried to put on a brave face even though she is too afraid to even blink.
The Snake tilts its head and did something she was not expecting; it blinked, she is pretty sure snakes can't blink, and it, in turn, made her blink in confusion. That is not the most surprising thing, however, what is most surprising is when the snake starts talking.
"Why aren't you a brave little girl." The Snake hissed as it circles Elizabeth until it is curled up around her. "But a little girl nonethelessssss, what are you doing awake at this time?"
"I-I can't sleep..." She doesn't know why she is answering the Snake.
"Becausse of the thunder?" The Snake tilts its head as it looks down at Elizabeth. "Poor child." It gently stroke her hair with its tail.
"I'm not scared. I'm a Princess. I have to be strong and brave." She said softly even though she flinched at the sound.
"Let me tell you about ssscared. Your heart beatss hard, sso much blood and oxygen pumping through your brain! Right now, you could run fasssster and you can fight harder and you can jump higher than you could ever in your life, and you're ssso alert, it'ss like you could slow down time. What's wrong with scared? Scared is a superpower! It's your superpower!" As the Snake speak it shift into a human male with short red hair and sunglasses to hide his eyes. "And you know what? Being brave isn't being fearless! It is being afraid but not letting it stop you from doing what needs to be done!" He smiled softly as he gently cups her cheek. "But you are still young and it is late. You should be sleeping peacefully." He said before singing for her.
"You are my sunshine, my special sunshine. You should be happy when skies are grey. You have to know, Dear, how special you are. Please don't take my sunshine away. If you need me, I'll always be here, to love you, Sweetheart. This I promise. The world may hate you. And curse and hurt you. But I'll still be here by your side." He sang softly as he gently pats Elizabeth to sleep. "You are my sunshine, my Darling sunshine. You should be happy, when skies are grey. You have to know, Dear, how cherished you are. So please don't take my sunshine away." He smiled softly as Elizabeth sleep peacefully with a smile on her face. "Sweet dreams, Little one." He said softly and gently kiss her forehead before disappearing into the night.
~Elizabeth age 4~
"He is cute isn't he?" Elizabeth was sitting at her desk trying to read a book, that her Governess had read to her earlier that day and therefore still fresh in her memory, herself in the flicker of the candlelight when she saw the man that was a Snake from two years ago standing next to her with a baby in his arms. Except he isn't a he anymore, he is now a she and her hair are now long enough to touch her shoulders.
"Who is the baby?" She asked as she closed her book and got out of her seat to get a better look at the baby.
"Meet Edward, Elizabeth. He is your brother." The Lady said as she squats down so Elizabeth can get a better look at the baby.
Elizabeth's eyes widen in shock and she doesn't know why but she really doesn't want the Snake person to get into trouble. "You have to put him back! If my Father finds out-" She's stopped by a finger to her lips.
"Shh...it's alright, Dear. Your brother will be back in his crib before anyone even knows that he is gone." The Lady smiled softly and gently cup her cheek. "There is no need to worry about me, Little one." She said and with a snap of her fingers, Edward is gone.
"Where is Edward?" Elizabeth asked, more curious than worried for her brother. She might not know the Lady that well but she has a feeling that she would never harm children.
"Back in his crib." She smiled softly as stroke the side of Elizabeth's face. "There." She snaps her fingers and a mirror appeared in front of Elizabeth.
Elizabeth was going to ask how she made the mirror appeared out of thin air until she actually looked into the mirror. Even with only the light of her candle, she can see the snake that is now on her face, the very same one the Lady has. "What did you do?" She asked as she reaches up a hand to touch the marking.
"You were born because I tempted your Father's eyes to wander, that made you mine before you were even born and I am laying my claim, don't worry. No one but another Serpent's child and I would be able to see it." She stood up and straighten her clothes. "From now on you're one of The Serpent's Children, there are things that would be expected of you but for now just enjoy your childhood." A pair of wings unfurl from her back as the windows flew open on their own. The light from the full moon shines on the Lady, making her look like a Goddess in the eyes of little Elizabeth.
Elizabeth watches in awe as the Lady gracefully climb out of the window and take off into the night sky. She runs up to her window to look out of it and watch as the Lady disappear into the clouds. She is left with so many questions and she can hope that the Lady will return soon to answer them all.
~Elizabeth age 13~
"Happy Birthday, Elizabeth. Time sure does fly by, doesn't it? Look at you, 13th years of age already!" Elizabeth looks over to see the Lady, her hair now reaching her back, sitting on her desk with her legs crossed, leaning forward with her hands holding onto the edge of her desk.
"How did you get in?" Elizabeth asked in surprise. She had just turned her back to her desk to head to bed when the Lady spoke, there is no way she could have gotten through the door or window, they are both closed.
"So many questions, that's what I like about you." The lady smiled as she jumps off the desk and walks towards Elizabeth. "It is time. Are you ready?" She asked softly as she gently pushes some of Elizabeth's hair behind her ear.
"Ready for what?" Elizabeth asked softly as she looks up at the Lady, she should call for help but she doesn't feel that her life is in danger, quite the opposite actually, she feels safe with the Lady.
"To learn." The Lady said as she unfurls her wings. "There is so much that is hidden from Humans. The question is, do you want to stay ignorance? Or do you want to be enlightened?" She asked as she holds out her hand.
Elizabeth stares at the Lady in awe as she thought over the offer. The chances of her being on the throne are low so why shouldn't she take up the offer and learn things that people could only dream of? She smiled softly as she gently takes the Lady's hand. "I chose enlightenment."
The Lady pulls Elizabeth into her arms and wraps an arm around her lower back. "Wise choice, Little one." She said softly as her wings closed around them.
Elizabeth allows herself to relax in the Lady's arms and watch as her wings cover them until it blocked out all lights. Her wings stayed closed for a few seconds and she can't help gasping at what she saw when the Lady's wings opened up. "Where are we?" She asked in awe as she looks around.
"Welcome to The Serpent's Garden, Little one." The Lady said softly as she let go of Elizabeth so she can explore the garden filled with plants that are the most luxurious, verdant and
beautiful she has ever seen.
"A beautiful paradise made for The Serpent's Children." A voice said from behind them and Elizabeth turns around to see another Lady in a long soft green coloured dress with a white wolf running after a black horse. "Welcome back, Master Crowley." She holds both sides of her dress and bends her knees while bowing her head.
"Crowley...?" Elizabeth turns to look up at the Lady next to her.
"That is my name, Little one." Crowley stroke her hair. "And she is Tina, another Serpent's Child. She'll be answering any questions you might have." She places a hand on Elizabeth's back and gently pushes her over to Tina. "I'll be on Earth making sure no one knows you are missing. Return when you are ready." She said before disappearing.
Tina smiled softly as she holds out her hand. "There is something every Serpent's child has to learn before anything else."
"What is it?" Elizabeth asked curiously as she gently takes Tina's hand and let her lead.
"How to braid." Tina leads Elizabeth over to a tree and sat down under it before patting the ground in front of her.
"...Braid?" Elizabeth asked in confusion as she sat in front of Tina.
"Yep! Braiding has always been traditional between Master Crowley and The Serpent's Children. Even if she has short hair she will grow it out for us if we ask." Tina explained as she pulls out a brush and starts brushing Elizabeth's hair. "It is when we'll talk or ask questions and she will always be truthful to us."
"What exactly is Crowley?" Elizabeth asked softly. "Is she an Angel?"
"As one of The Serpent's child, you have to address her as Master Crowley, Dear. It is our way of showing our respect for her." Tina said as she put the brush away and start braiding. "Master Crowley was once an Angel long before humans were created by God. She did not Fall with the other Fallens but she does not wish to tell anyone why she Fell and we respect her decision. After all, it is her secret to keep. We are in no position to demand an answer out of her."
Elizabeth nods her head before looking up at the sky. "Where are we?" She can see two stars that are so close together that it almost looks like they are one.
"The Serpent's Garden, a planet far from Earth and it is kinda like The Garden of Eden that was on Earth." Tina smiled softly as she looks up at the stars Elizabeth is watching. "They are Alpha Centauri. Master Crowley created them when she was still an Angel, she actually made every single star and planet in our universe. She was trusted by God to bring Her vision of the universe to life."
Elizabeth looks at the stars in awe. "Master Crowley made them..." She whispered softly. "What do you mean it's kinda like The Garden of Eden?" She asked curiously.
"Like in The Garden of Eden we do not need to worry about anything in The Serpent's Garden, we are protected and provided for. But unlike The Garden of Eden, there is no food that is forbidden here and we are encouraged to ask questions and pursue knowledge, Master Crowley has even built a library filled with books and her reports to Hell, the true version along with the version she sent to Hell. "
"Two versions of a report? Why don't Master Crowley just send the truth to Hell? Why does she need to make a version just for them?" Elizabeth turns around to look at Tina.
"Because Master Crowley isn't like the other Demons. She is nice and being nice could get her into a lot of trouble so she would twist the truth into something that would please Hell. She also took credit of a lot of things that humans did and the only reason she didn't get into trouble for that is that no one in Hell bothered to check." Tina explained as she gently turns Elizabeth around so she can continue braiding her hair.
"Oh..." Elizabeth looks up at Alpha Centauri. She can only imagine how lonely it must be being different from the others of her kind and having to hide it so she won't get into trouble while still staying the same and it made her glad that she was chosen to be a Serpent's Child, it means being able to meet Master Crowley. She has no doubt in her mind that she will become a better person because of Master Crowley and if she is lucky, a good Queen for her country.
~Elizabeth age 14~
"You have been here for a year now, Elizabeth. Are you planning on returning home soon?" Tina asked softly as she watches the girl in front of her read Master Crowley's daily report.
"Why should I?" Elizabeth places the report down and places her hands on her lap, clutching them tightly. "There is no one that cares about me, Thomas Seymour harassed Master Crowley every day thinking that she is me while Catherine Parr watches and think nothing of it only to banish her out when the husband she can't control is found hugging Master Crowley. My siblings are too busy with their own lives to even notice that it isn't me they are speaking to." She said with sadness in her voice.
"Do not blame them, Elizabeth. I can't speak for the actions of your stepmother and her new husband; but I know that it isn't your siblings' fault for not noticing that you are not yourself, Master Crowley is an excellent actor. If she doesn't want people to know they won't know. And you've read the reports, they still care for you even if they have their duties." Tina smiled softly as she places a hand on Elizabeth's shoulder. "But this isn't why I am here, I have something to show you." She said as she stood up.
"What is it?" Elizabeth asked curiously, she has been here for a year now and she is sure she has seen everything.
"Something very important." Tina holds her hand out for Elizabeth to take.
Elizabeth gently take Tina's hand and follow her down a path she was sure wasn't there before until they reach a hill filled with gravestones. "What is this?" She whispered softly.
"We do not live forever, some of us might live longer than others but in the end, we will have to welcome Death with open arms and when that day comes a gravestone will appear here for us no matter where our body is buried." Tina gently stroke the top of the gravestone closest to her before turning to Elizabeth. "Our job is to please Hell but stay non-corrupted so we can get into paradise, the place where all non-corrupted souls go." She looks up the top of the hill. "Not a single one of us has failed, Master Crowley and not a single one of us would."
Elizabeth looks at all the gravestones that covered the hill and she finally felt the weight of her position, to be able to please Hell and still stay non-corrupted? Would she be able to do it? There are so many past Serpent's Children...she doesn't...no, she refuses to be the first. She looks up at Alpha Centauri with determination in her eyes as she promises herself that she will go back to earth and do her best for Master Crowley.
~Elizabeth age 21~
"Why are you still here?" Crowley leans against the bars as he looks at Elizabeth, his hair is tied up in a high ponytail and held in place by a red ribbon. "You could run away whenever you want."
"If I run I would forever be hunted by my sister," Elizabeth said calmly without turning to face Crowley. "' Sometimes the only choices you have are bad ones. But you still have to choose.' Is that not what you've said to me?"
Crowley smiled softly. "You're right, Elizabeth. But you are too young to die here."
"Are you testing me, Master Crowley? 'Some people live more in twenty years than others do in eighty. It's not the time that matters, it's the person.' you told me that as well." Elizabeth turns to face Crowley and give him a raised eyebrow.
Crowley laughed as he pushes himself off the bar and walks towards Elizabeth. "You have grown, Elizabeth. I'm glad." He smiled softly as he gently stroke her cheek before disappearing right before her eyes.
Elizabeth gently places her hand over her racing heart. "Calm yourself, My heart." She whispered softly as she reaches up her hand to touch the spot Master Crowley had touched her. She for years she had felt this way and it isn't until a few years ago when she realised what it means. She knows it is wrong for her to feel this way but she can't help it and she has no idea how to make it go away.
~Elizabeth age 25~
"Congratulations on becoming Queen, Elizabeth. You'll definitely have your handfuls trying to fix your sister's mess." Crowley said from her place on Elizabeth's bed.
Elizabeth sigh softly from her desk. "There is definitely a lot that needs to be fixed and no matter how much I want to I can't change the religion to The Serpent's Church." She smiled softly as she turns around to look at the Demon making herself on her bed.
Crowley chuckles softly as she sat up. "You're right about that, best not have Heaven know about it."
"But it is so unfair. You are so much nicer to your followers than God has ever been and yet the people would probably not worship you because you're a Demon and Heaven doesn't like sharing." Elizabeth frown unhappily, she has met Master Crowley's followers before and they are all so much happier than her people who worship God.
Crowley shrugs her shoulders. "Life isn't fair but the way I see it, life is a pile of good things and bad things. The good things don't always soften the bad things, but vice versa the bad things don't always spoil the good things and make them unimportant. Worshipping God might not give the people what they want but it does sometimes give them what they need." She lay down and look up at the ceiling. "The belief in a higher power that would save them, that if they are good and no matter how hard their life is on Earth they would go to Heaven, that if they have done wrong they would be forgiven if they seek it."
Crowley did not believe the things she just said even when she was a human. She had believed that every miracle had a scientific answer and now she knows that the higher power, aka Heaven, doesn't actually care about Humans.
Crowley did not believe in Heaven or Hell as a Human and now she knows that you can do whatever you want; as long as your soul isn't corrupt you would be able to enter Paradise which is in Heaven.
And lastly, Crowley did not believe in clearing your sins by just asking God for forgiveness. If you've done something wrong; you either work to correct your mistakes and earn forgiveness from the ones you have wronged or you will just have to learn to live with your mistakes, this is something she still believes in to this day.
But of course, she never told Elizabeth. She knows that if she did; Elizabeth might not be willing to let her people continue worshipping God, and it would spell trouble for her. They had been forced to change religion too many times and if she had tried making them switch to one that worships a Demon? Her head will definitely roll and that is something Crowley doesn't want.
~Elizabeth age 33~
"Parliament refuses to grant me any further funds until the matter of my marriage is settled and I told them that the welfare of my country is my priority, not marriage and that they should keep out of my personal matters. I will marry if and when it is convenient." Elizabeth recounts her day to Crowley as she braids his hair. "Honestly my life is none of their business."
"Why don't you just find someone to marry? We both know that they would keep bothering you until you do." Crowley asked out of curiosity.
"Yes, but after they'll ask me to have an heir and I really don't have the time to try for a child."
"I can help you increase the chances of you producing an heir. It isn't hard for me to do."
Elizabeth's hands stopped braiding and Crowley was going to turn around to see what's wrong when Elizabeth started talking. "The person I love would never agree to marry me." She said softly as her hands fall onto her lap.
"You have someone you like?" Crowley asked in surprise as he turns around to face Elizabeth. "Who is it? And how do you know they won't like you back if you didn't ask?"
Elizabeth looks away from Master Crowley for a while to gather her courage before turning back to him and gently take his hands into hers. "Master Crowley...would you marry me?" She asked softly even though she already knows the answer.
Crowley froze as he stares at Elizabeth in shock. "Oh, Elizabeth..." He said softly once he came out of his shock. "You know that I can't."
"I know..." She whispered softly as she let go of his hands and look away with tears in her eyes.
Crowley sighs softly as he runs his hand through his long hair. "Elizabeth, even if I do marry you; you have to understand, you can spend the rest of your life with me, but I can't spend the rest of mine with you. I have to live on till the end of time."
"I know that, Master Crowley." She said softly. "That is why I will have people try to find a way to immortality if you would have me..."
Crowley shakes his head. "Don't. I'm old enough to know that a longer life isn't always a better one. In the end, you just get tired. Tired of the struggle. Tired of losing everyone that matters to you. Tired of watching everything you love turn to dust. If you live long enough, Elizabeth, the only certainty left is that you'll be left alone by everyone around you." He gently holds her hands and looks her in her eyes. "Trust me, you don't want that."
Elizabeth smiled sadly as she looks at him. "You are truly kind, Master Crowley."
Crowley laughed humourlessly. "I'm not kind, Elizabeth. I've taken lives." They might not have died by his hands but they died because of him. "And I got worse, I got clever. Manipulated people into taking their own. Sometimes I think I've lived too long. I can't. I just can't." He let go of Elizabeth's hands and cover his eyes. "When you have lived as long as I have you'll find it so hard to go on sometimes, everything is too much, going too fast..." He lowers his hands to look up at the ceiling as one hand clutch over his heart. "Too painful..." He had to take deep breaths to keep himself calm as memories of what Satan did to him flashed before his eyes.
"But you've made it this far. You must have something to keep you going." Elizabeth did not comment on the pain she saw in his eyes.
"Yes...an Angel." He smiled softly at the mention of his Angel. "He is different from the other Angels and he has been there with me since the beginning of mankind."
Elizabeth's heart aches when she saw the look on Master Crowley's face at the mention of this Angel of his and she knows. Even if she can live forever with him he would never be hers for an Angel has already won.
~Elizabeth age 46~
"When I've heard of a noble coming all the way here for the Royal Library instead of me I just knew it was you, Aziraphale," Elizabeth said as she walks into the library and towards the man reading at the desk.
"Your Majesty!" Aziraphale jumped to his feet and bow, he doesn't know how she knows about him, he is pretending to be a noble to read the books they have here.
"Raise, Aziraphale. I cannot allow someone so important to Master Crowley to bow to me." She said as she examines the Angel in front of her. He is exactly as Master Crowley described and she can see why he would like him so much.
"Master Crowley...?" Aziraphale looks up with confusion in his eyes that cleared up when he saw Crowley's mark on her. "You're one of his."
Elizabeth nods her head as she lightly brushes her fingers over the books she walked past. "I am. Master Crowley told me a lot about you, Aziraphale." She said as she glances over to the Angel.
"All good things I hope." Aziraphale smiled nervously, no one is supposed to know that he is an Angel.
Elizabeth laughed softly. "Oh, he has said nothing but good things to say about you, Aziraphale." She said as she smiled softly. "Which is why I would like to ask you for a favour."
"Me?" Aziraphale asked in surprise, why would she want a favour from him?
"Master Crowley needs someone to watch over him," Elizabeth said softly as she turns to fully face Aziraphale. "I cannot be that someone but you can."
"But...why would Crowley need someone to watch over him?" Aziraphale has a feeling he won't like the answer.
"Perhaps it is out of line for me to ask this of you but I am worried Master Crowley would take his life one day." She watches Aziraphale carefully. "If you are truly as wonderful as he has made you out to be, then please, take care of Master Crowley." She said before leaving the Angel to his own thoughts.
Aziraphale watch as Elizabeth leaves the library, he wonders what Crowley had said to make her worried about his life. He couldn't have told her that Satan forced himself on him...right? Well, one thing is for sure, he will have to be more alert around Crowley and look out for any warning signs that he might take his own life.
~Elizabeth age 69~
"What a way to go, not as a big bang but as a soft whimper," Crowley said from his seat next to Queen Elizabeth the first as she lay dying.
"Don't you think I've made too many big bangs in my lifetime already? Maybe it is time to change it up a little." Elizabeth closes her eyes. "I do wonder why I always feel so much better when you are around even though I am dying."
"Who knows." Crowley smiled sadly. "Maybe it is my charming good looks."
Elizabeth laughed softly. "Perhaps. You're still as handsome as you've been when I first met you all those years ago."
"While you have changed from a little girl to a dying old woman. Time sure flies." He runs his hand through his long hair. "You would never braid again."
"I wish I could one last time." She said softly as she opens her eyes. She tried to lift her hand but couldn't find the strength.
Crowley gently places his hand on Elizabeth's and gently stroke the back of her hand. "I know."
"Thank you, Crowley..." She whispered softly.
Crowley heard her even though she whispered. "Think nothing of it. It is normal for a Demon to watch such a successful woman like yourself die in such a pathetic manner."
Elizabeth laughed softly only for it to turn into a cough.
Crowley is immediately on his feet with his hand over her chest to help with the cough, if you look closely you can see his hand glowing slightly. "Honestly look at you, you can't even laugh properly." He said softly.
She smiled softly once she has recovered from her cough. "That's why you are here."
Crowley huffed as he crosses his arms. "No, I've already told you why I am here."
"Of course." She said with a soft smile on her face. "Crowley, will I be seeing you in Hell?"
"Your soul is not pure, Elizabeth, but it isn't corrupted either so no. You will not be going to Hell." Crowley answered honestly.
"Then I have succeeded as The Serpent's Child." Her smile is still on her face as she closes her eyes to rest. She knows that Crowley will stay by her side until her end even if no one would be able to see him.
"Have you ever met her?" Crowley asked Aziraphale as he watches mourning Londoners watch Elizabeth's journey to her final resting place.
"Yes..." Aziraphale said softly, remembering the one and only time he has met her.
Aziraphale glance over to Crowley as his mind brought him back to the day he found his Demon so lost and broken. Crowley had a panic attack when he woke up in an unfamiliar room and it took him almost an hour to calm him down. What Crowley told him once he has calmed down...it made him want to go down to Hell and personally smite Satan down for what he had done to Crowley. But the rage he felt was overpowered by the need to protect Crowley. How dare Satan force Crowley to accept his essences and claim HIS Demon? He didn't even ask if it is what Crowley wanted!
As Aziraphale watch Crowley's long hair dance in the wind he made a promise to himself. When the right time comes he will ask Crowley to be his and he will clear out Satan's essences from his Demon and replace it with his if Crowley agrees. He will treat Crowley the way he should be treated. He might not have confirmation of his identity as an Angel nor does he knows why he Fell in the first place but he knows that Crowley should be loved and cared for and that is what he will do.
/Hope this chapter was worth the wait! Do let me know what you think down in the comments below!
Now onto the questions, should Heaven and/or Hell know who Crowley is? And should they find out before or after Armageddon?
The vote will end when I upload the next chapter and whichever vote win will affect the rest of the story so choose wisely!
