When Crowley woke up, all he could do was stare, thinking 'what the f-' knowing that was it...
Crowley sat cuffed with chains on hands, knees, and feet, slightly bloody in a dark prison cell, it was probably in hell, where else would it be in these times anyway. This wasn't an ordinary prison cell, Crowley knew that. It was a waiting cell, just as it was a prison cell. Waiting for what exactly? His doom, hell had gotten their hands on the unknowingly to them, a fallen Archangel, yet again. He looked around, hoping to find some sort of escape hole, but couldn't find any, frustrated, he tried to transform into a snake but found he couldn't, annoyed he hissed at the bars, trying to kick them with his foot, remembering it was cuffed, and couldn't be moved. He signed and laid his head back in annoyance and frustration, waiting for a terrible rescue plan from Aziraphale. Or maybe Beelzebub and possibly even his fallen brother, could he still call him that? he did make him quiet mad last time they met; it may not have been under great circumstances either.
He didn't know how long he sat there boringly, occasionally shouting annoying or snarky remarks to a passing demon or his lazy warden, not that many others did come, only a few, he hadn't been able to see or hear if there were any others down here with him.
But what did hell want with him? Other than end him of course, Insanity, madness? He could do with a drink, maybe more after he gets out, if he got out.
''Crawly,'' he heard Beelzebub say as zee walked in with two demons behind her, one he recognized to be Hastur, whom both went to talk with his lazy ward.
''Lord Beelzebub,'' Crowley sarcastically said. Trying to bow down, only to realize his chains was shortening, forcing him up with a painful force, a pained sound made its way through his throat, walking up to Beelzebub's side was Hastur smiling evilly, ''oh don't sound like that, we haven't even begun yet.''
''We already know your crimes and there for will execute you, without trail and without failure, but first. Due to your lasted failed execution, you will receive a special treatment and die this time,'' Beelzebub explained, the flies above her head flying up and down agreeing.
''Belphegor! Are you ready yet?'' Ze asked impatient.
The demon talking to the ward turned around and smiled wickedly and said, ''oh yes, I am,'' showing a tool in their hand, Beelzebub and Hastur turned and walked away, ''Bye, bye Crowley,'' Hastur tauntingly said.
When Belphegor stood in front of him, Crowley could see he had dark short hair filled with burning ash and hair tips weakly burning. His oblong milk coloured face with rotting spots, strong nose and black eyes like hastur but Belphegor's had a red iris, his thin red lips wore a crooked smile he also wore a half open black leather jacket with a grey shit and white tie and black ash filled pants. Somehow, he still looked like the type of guy you give respect to.
A table full of tool was by his side; all Crowley could do was bite his lip to avoid screaming and giving in when he began. That was what hell wanted wasn't it? After a long time, he screamed, for a while that was all you could hear near the waiting prisons in hell.
Back in Anathemas cottage Aziraphale sat worried on the sofa, hoping Crowley would return soon, it wasn't like the demon to having left for so long, especially without his precious Bentley. Maybe something had happened to him? No, it's Crowley he's thinking about, Crowley knows how to defend himself, but still, the demon would never have left for so long, he hasn't even called saying well, anything. Deciding he had to do something, he stood up, walked to the door, dismissing the idea a second after, he then began walking over to the kitchen, where an Anathema and a Newt were talking and watching the Them playing outside with Dog who was sniffing to the blue Dandelions in the early afternoon.
''Anathema, my dear,'' Aziraphale began, looking at Anathema, ''do you know any locating spells?''
Anathema looked at Aziraphales worried expression, then said, ''Crowley hasn't returned yet?'' Aziraphale nodded. Somehow, perfectly timed, the Them walked in with Dog right behind them.
''yeah, I'm sure I got a locating spell, I'll go look for it,'' Anathema said sounding worried.
''Or guys we could just go outside and look for him?'' Wensleydale said, surprised none of them thought about that simple option.
''Then why don't we go outside and split up and search?'' Adam said taking up the role as leader for this plan, ''Anathema you go with Pepper, Newt you go with Wensleydale, Aziraphale and Brain go with me. We meet back here at 6 pm, (18.)'' They all nodded and began to leave after getting a flashlight from Anathemas kitchen drawer.
The 3 groups, having chosen different places to search, so they covered more ground. anathema and pepper, The small streets of tadfield, Newt and Wensleydale, the large lawn near the forest, and Adam, Brain and Aziraphale, the green forest.
''I really hope nothing has happened to him, if so, that would be really bad, no one touches my best friend,'' Aziraphale said as the 3 walked, shining their flashlight, looking around in the forest.
''How long have you two been friends?'' Brain asked, poking in the ground with a big stick he found earlier.
''since the garden of Eden, I should think'' Aziraphale answered.
''That really was real?'' Brain asked surprised.
''of course, it was real if angels and demons exist. The garden would've probably too,'' Adam said looking around.
''That is a good point Adam,'' Brain said, looking at him, ''I know'' Adam agreed, as he kept on walking.
''do you think he might be at our secret base in the forest?'' brain asked.
''maybe, let's go take a look,'' Adam said, beginning to change direction along with Brain and Aziraphale, walking behind them.
Walking around in Tadfield was Anathema and Pepper, looking for a certain demon to show themselves.
''wouldn't we have spotted him by now if he was here, I mean he can't be that hard to see. He can't really hide behind much, can he? ''Pepper said, flashing the flashlight around, ''with his height? Where would he be hiding? A trashcan?''
''I don't know Pepper we just have to look the right places; we'll find him don't worry,'' Anathema assured, looking at the ground. Remembering how the demon acted before it looked like he had secrets he didn't want to share, at least not yet.
He owed the Them another round of pirates' vs demons, last time they had to stop the game due to lunch being ready and being forced by Aziraphale to finally answer some of her questions, during and after lunch.
''Look Pepper maybe we should go close to the paths next to the forest, Crowley does seem to like plants, he did give a lot of flowers to the garden, even help them grow a lot.''
''let's go there, come on,'' Pepper said, walking closer to the forest.
''Wait hold on! Is that?'' Anathema exclaimed, ''oh no, we need to find the others,'' she then said, holding something in her hand. On closer inspection pepper could see it was the demon's dark glasses, only they were broken, and a part of the glasses seemed to be missing, looking at the ground she couldn't see the part that was missing, looking up she saw anathema was already walking into the forest in search of the others, Pepper began running over to Anathema.
Newt and Wensleydale had been walking on the big green lawn in Tadfield, for some time now, even after both of them ended up falling in a pool of mud from last days rain, they decided is could wait changing clothes, it was mostly dry now. They kept on, trying to find Crowley, having not seen him yet, they decided maybe, he was in the big unknown to them, former church. They began to walk to the former church, hoping Crowley might have went in there.
''do you think he went in there; I mean it doesn't exactly look like a place he would go to,'' Newt said as they were walking over to the entrance, ''I don't know, but if I remember right I think this was a church before I was born, so I think you might be right. Let's better look anyway.''
As they were in front of the entrance, where a sign said 'Tadfield manor.' It was filled with stuff, cones, barrels, and other stuff, at first glance it looked like a failed military course.
When they went to the door, they could see there was still light inside, so they decided to knock and hope anyone was there, opening the door was former sister Mary Loquacious.
''Can I help you two?''
In the former church was Mary Hodges former Mary Loquacious, she was usually working around this time, checking the papiers of what had happened during the day and of the usual stuff you can check, bills and purchases, she was running the place after all. But what she didn't expect was any visitors, they never got visitor this time of day, but when they did, it was usually people who was lost and needed to ask for directions. Walking in one of the halls, humming to herself she heard someone knocking, thinking it was some lost people again, she went to answer it, only to be greeted with an adult and a kid both male and also filled with mud on their clothes. She looked surprised for a second, quickly taking a calm expression, but failing a bit, she decided to ask why they had come and if the two needed help with directions, she went with, ''can I help you two?''
Newt was about to say something when Wensleydale cut him off before he even said anything.
''Yes, hello, my name is Wensleydale and this is my friend Newt,'' Newt made an awkward wave, ''and we are looking for our friend and we thought we might have gone in here.''
She looked baffled at the child for a second before saying, ''no sorry, I haven't seen anyone come here beside yourself and the people from the team building event earlier, maybe he was among those, what did he look like?''
Newt and Wensleydale both shook their head and said, ''no he probably wasn't,'' shrugging Wensleydale looked at Newt and Newt looked down at him and mumbled something and began to describe Crowley to her, he said about how he had red hair and always used sunglasses and wore black clothes.
As Newt was talking it dawned on her that who he was describing sounded a lot like master Crowley from all those years ago, hoping she wasn't right she avoided making a surprised sound, and listened until he finished describing.
''Have you seen him?'' a voiced piped up beside Newt when had finished explaining, she was looked at with grey eyes, she shook her head, ''No I-I haven't seen him, sorry, hope you find who you're looking for, now goodbye,'' she quickly said, closing the door behind her.
''well that was an unexpected ending.''
''that may be true, maybe, maybe we should begin to head back, it is beginning to get dark,'' Newt said and pointed at the almost dark star sky.
Walking back to Anathemas cottage, they were both worried and hoped that the others had found something and that something being Crowley. While walking they saw Aziraphale, Adam and Brian walking, ''hey! Hello, guys, it's us,'' Newt awkwardly shouted as both him and Wensleydale caught up to them.
''ahh, goodie,'' Aziraphale said, a worried expression on his face, ''did you find anything?''
''No, we didn't, what about you three?'' Wensleydale said.
''No, we didn't find anything in the woods, we even searched our place there, but we couldn't find him,'' responded Brian.
''Maybe Pepper and Anathema has gotten something, don't worry Aziraphale,'' Adam said to Aziraphale's now really worried expression. ''Aziraphale was about to protest that he wasn't that worried even though it was obvious, when Wensleydale cut in saying that they should head back to the cottage now, where Pepper and Anathema could be waiting for them.
Back in Anathemas cottage was Pepper and Anathema herself. They had decided to head back after they had searched more after they had found Crowley's glasses.
Anathema was looking in some sort of book once in a while and getting what looked like herbs and other stuff and apparently a banana.
''Why are you getting a banana? Weren't you about to make a spell or something, can you even use a banana for the spell?'' Pepper asked as Anathema was about to take the banana up, she looked at Pepper and said ''Bananas are good, they also give a lot of potassium, yes that is healthy,'' she took a bit of the banana. Getting more stuff, she suddenly took a big, deep, and wide brown bowl and put it on the table and began to put some of the items in it, and then cutting others.
Someone knocked on the door.
Someone knocked again this time a bit more impatient.
''I'm coming, I'm coming.'' Pepper said as she went to answer the door, when she opened it, she saw Aziraphale, Newt, Adam, and Brian, suddenly Brian rushed past her.
''Sorry but I really need the toilet.''
As the others went inside and began to join Anathema near the kitchen, she was immediately bombarded with questions asking if she found anything, looking a bit surprised at the sudden questioning she answered by showing them Crowley's glasses and quietly continued cutting the last ingredients to the locating spell.
''Oh dear,'' Aziraphale murmured, putting a hand on his body, he went to sit down at the table.
''Do you think that I mean that hell got him?'' Newt said after pregnant pause, ''Aziraphale looked warily at Newt, ''I hope you are not correct, but I believe you might be right my friend,'' Aziraphale said and looked down on the table quietly.
''What is that?'' someone asked Anathema, she was not quite sure who, but answered anyway.
''it is one of the ingredients in the spell.''
''what spell?'' Brian asked.
''The locating spell,'' Pepper answered Brian.
''I'm almost done, Newt can you cut the last one out,'' She asked, Newt walked over and began cutting. He may not be good with computers and other kind of technology, but he did know his way around the kitchen and miraculously not breaking the oven or stove.
After having cut the last things, they were all gathered around the table, watching Anathema put it in the bowl and mix it together with a long silver pen, murmuring something, she looked down as the substance changed from brown to inky black.
''So, is that it?'' Adam said, ''It didn't do anything,'' Just as he said that Anathema took Crowley's dark glasses and put them beside the bowl.
''I don't know if it will work on well, Celestial beings but let's try,'' she said as she looked at Aziraphale and he nodded.
''Anthony J Crowley,'' she said as she held the glasses for ten second.
The inky, sulphur colour began changing to a red before moving a bit aggressive around in the bowl then to a lovely green forest colour and beginning to thin out and write something.
''Oh dear.''
He didn't know how long he had been tortured by Belphegor or when he had stopped screaming due to his throat being sore from it, only a whimper made its way through every once in a while. Nor did he remember when Belphegor had stopped to take a little break 'to admire his work a bit.' It was during one of these breaks, he was staying in consciousness, he heard someone walk in.
''Pathetic,'' a voiced said, was it Hastur? He could not quiet hear much due to being almost unconscious but tried to listen anyway.
''Did you do as instructed?''
''Yes, I did, special treatment any a little extra for fun, consider it a gift.''
''Good, you two, come here!''
''Yes, lord Hastur.''
''Yes, lord Hastur.''
They both said as they came over, ''get him up, he's ready.''
His chains tight hold began loosening, on his arms, legs and his bloodied wings that came out sometime during the torture. He shivered and collapsed forward, getting caught by arms dragging him up, steading, he looked down on himself, seeing the blood, on pants and shirt, he signed and tried to walk after someone pushed him.
''You are pathetic Crowley, just look at yourself right now, so weak, so small, pathetic,'' Hastur taunted, Crowley looked up at Hastur with foggy eyes, he gave a weak smile which turned into a ugly, pained grimace, he snarked, ''well maybe I am beginning to resemble you now,'' Hastur stopped and looked at him, the duke looked annoyed maybe even a bit insulted, he couldn't say.
''don't play clever Crowley, it doesn't suite you,'' Hastur said annoyed to him, he began walking faster forcing Crowley and the two holding him trying to keep up without falling or walking into someone.
Coming to a halt they stopped in front of a dark door, Hastur made the two demons who had held Crowley walk away as Beelzebub went up beside him, wait when had she joined them? He had not noticed ze before now, it was probably while he was focusing on not collapsing as they almost ran through the crowds.
Hastur nodded at Beelzebub and began walking away, ze knocked on the door as Crowley steadied him on a wall, he couldn't really run away in his condition right now, so he had to go with whatever they were doing, hopefully it wasn't anything bad. As the door opened, it showed a dark room with what looked like a chair and someone sitting lazily in it.
''Prince Beelzebub,'' a voiced said. ''Demon Crowley,'' the voice said again, after a moment Crowley recognized the voice it belonged to none other than Lucifer himself.