Recruitment
Crowley and Rowan remained in bed until the sun fell beneath the horizon and the sky darkened. They spent the day with their bodies entwined, forgetting the world around them. With the night lights illuminating their dark room, they decided to finally get out of bed.
Crowley pulled his suit back on while Rowena conjured dress, but this one was different. It was an Emerald Sundae long black lace backless gown; a delicate lace high collar over a sweetheart neckline with a feminine bow tie in the back to hang down over her open back. The curve hugging floor length dress also had a slit along her left leg, up to her thigh. It was similar to her first dress, but with less lace.
When she turned to Crowley, he smiled darkly at her, wrapping an arm around her and giving her a tender kiss on her cheek.
"Beautiful." He spoke in a whisper. He pulled back and looked out at the night scene just out of their hotel window. "Shall we take a stroll?" Crowley asked and she kissed his cheek in response. He looked at her and smiled.
They left the hotel, simply teleporting to the street beneath their hotel window. Prague was a beautiful city at night.
As they walked the street, passing by other couples snuggled closely together, they couldn't resist reminiscing about the day they met, the time they spent together.
"I knew the Winchesters had caught on, but I was going to beat them to the discovery." Crowley said, making Rowan smile, shaking her head slightly. "Then, naturally, they were going to let you forget." He added and she nodded.
"So much for that." She said with a bright smile. "Not to inflate your ego, because we both know you do that well on your own," she added, making Crowley chuckle softly. "But I was attracted to you instantly." She concluded and when she looked into his eyes, grinned as his ego was indeed inflated.
"Likewise, Chickadee." He replied, making her let out a slight laugh. He narrowed his eyes at her, not appreciating how it sounded like she didn't believe him.
"Especially when I got tipsy, I can imagine." She said and his lips twitched into a smirk.
"Oh, that was delicious." He replied, making her laugh a little. "You had your hands all over me." he added, making her laugh a little louder. "If only the Winchesters knew what went on in that dungeon of theirs." He concluded and she looked up at him with a grin.
"But our deal won't permit it." she said and he grinned down at her.
Rowan's iPad simply appeared in her hand. She raised it with an arch eyebrow and sighed. When Crowley glanced over, seeing the iPad, he let out a soft chuckle.
"Like a lost puppy; always finds its way back." he said and she quickly checked it. There were few dozen souls to approve and Crowley was taking a bit of interest into the newcomers. It wasn't abnormal, but she was curious as to why he kept looking over.
Rowan came to one guy and Crowley's attention seemed to intensify. She glanced over at him and narrowed her eyes. When he looked up at her, away from her iPad, he gave her a slight grin.
"Says here that he got out of a deal a few years ago." She said and his expression only remained the same. "Care to spill the details?" she asked with suspicion in her eyes that only made his smile broaden.
"Roger Finnegan came to the crossroads, asking for riches because he lost everything to loan sharks and was bound to end up dead." Crowley said, looking out at the city of Prague as her stare pierced through him, determined to know what he wanted. "We were doing well; the deal was sealed and he got his riches. I gave him a couple of years, but the Winchesters got in and helped him hide from my Hellhounds." He added and Rowan then knew what had happened; Sam and Dean got Roger out of his deal, but how was beyond her, so she let Crowley continue. "They killed one of my Hellhounds and then trapped me. Quite embarrassing, but I terminated the deal." He concluded and with no details, Rowan was highly curious as to how they forced the King of the Crossroads into giving up Roger's deal. If he wasn't sharing the details, he was only too embarrassed and she wasn't going to push him.
"You got cheated out of a deal." Rowan said and Crowley looked at her with a slight grin in those dark eyes.
"Exactly." He replied, clearly not happy with Sam and Dean about that.
"Well, you may not like Sam and Dean, but I have a soft spot for them." Rowan said with a plan in mind. Crowley gave a snort and looked away. "I just placed Mary Winchester in Helheim before we left and it's my goal to have the whole Winchester family together." She added and looked up at the stars with a smile on her face, making Crowley glanced over at her to see if she was serious.
"Setting yourself up for failure, Chickadee." He said and she glanced at him with an arched eyebrow.
"Meaning?" she asked and the corner of his mouth twitched into a grin.
"Where do you think John Winchester is?" he asked and she fought really hard to hide her expression as he confirmed her suspicion.
"In Hell?" she asked and looked away. "Explains why he hadn't come in with Heaven's batch." She added and glanced back at him to see a broadening grin.
"In order to fulfill your goal, perhaps we can strike a deal." Crowley said and she looked at him with a little grin of her own, but she found it odd how she wasn't the only one with that idea. Had he known that's where she was going?
Then it dawned on her why Crowley was looking at her iPad, interested in Roger Finnegan (and not just because he got out of his deal), and offering a deal. Someone that gets out of a deal never really does get out of that deal, at least not when the demon making it is Crowley, even now that he's the King of Hell.
"Just what did you do to Roger?" she asked and his grin widened as his dark eyes glistened. She nailed that theory head-on.
"Simply had a demon slip a hex bag here and there when he came out of his witness protection." Crowley replied and she shook her head with a grin she couldn't quite hide.
"I get that he cheated you, and I'm not defending him, but that was cheating too." She said and he only grinned, totally not offended. "So this is where you offer John for Roger, right?" she asked and his dark eyes sparked as if he loved that she thought similarly as him.
"If it were anyone else, I'd never allow it. You realize how much I let you get away with, don't you?" he replied and she let out a laugh as she tightened her grip around his arm. However, he was right, she knew it. She smiled sweetly at him, batting her eyelashes as if they were sending his kisses.
"I appreciate it. Roger is yours, if I get to deliver him and receive John myself. Not like fetch him out of Hell." She said and he let out a chuckle.
"Classic trade-off." he said and she nodded.
"Exactly." She replied and they crossed the street, coming to a late restaurant, serving coffee with little plates of snacks. "When would you like that done?" she asked and he glanced down at her with a slight grin.
"No rush, Chickadee." He replied and she smiled, nuzzling up to him. He wrapped his arm around her waist and they walked past the busy late night café.
Rowan's iPad chimed with a notification and it was just a few more souls, until she came upon one similar name and she froze. Crowley turned to her, narrowing his eyes at her worried expression. "Rowan?" he asked and she couldn't quite get the words out.
She had received another message from Bjarni and she had to check it right away so it would explain why that similar name was on her Underworld app.
Just thought you should know that your friend Veronica Rhodes from Maple City College is here. Dead, obviously. We haven't told her about you.
That didn't say much, but it was enough to confirm that her friend Veronica really was in the Underworld. Crowley had read over her shoulder and watched as she typed in her reply, which was about two hours late.
How is she? I'm sorry I didn't read this sooner. I'm on my way.
Rowan turned to Crowley and he only gave her a slight smile, looking at those sad and worried eyes. She didn't want to ask if he was alright with abandoning their vacation so she could see her friend, but it seemed he knew that's what she wanted and, like a gentleman, he wasn't going to deny her.
Just like they had teleported out of the hotel room to the streets of Prague, they teleported back to the entrance of the Underworld where souls were seated, waiting to be sorted. They were in the back, in front of the portal that the reapers used and Rowan saw Bjarni who had apparently just read the message, looking up, surprised.
They walked around the rows of chairs to the front where Gadreel and her Draugar were entering information into her app, looking busy, waiting for her.
Beside Bjarni was Veronica, looking exactly the same as the last time Rowan had seen her. Veronica's eyes opened wide and she gave a smile, but then looked at Rowan's dress and her smile turned into a smirk.
"Damn, you look good. Did you die too?" she asked, tilting her head. Rowan took her hands and held them tightly. Veronica was suspicious that there was bad news to be shared and Rowan gave her a friendly smile.
"You remember how everyone said I was weird? Remember that night with the giant snake?" Rowan asked and Veronica's face seemed pale, although being dead made her pale already.
"How can I forget?" she asked, wanting to look away, but finding that she was unable to look away from Rowan's powerful stare. "You seem so different." She added, staring into Rowan's eyes as if the answer would be there.
"I was always different, but when I left, I discovered myself." Rowan replied and gave a warm smile. "Let's talk somewhere more comfortable." She added and they walked over to the escalator going down the Helheim. Rowan glanced over her shoulder at Crowley as Veronica descended first. There was a small, slightly apologetic, smile on her beautiful face. Crowley gave her a half grin and turned to her Draugar, asking about the souls recently sent to Hell, happy to hear he got a few more.
As Rowan and Veronica got to the lobby, Rowan watched her friend gaze at everything in awe, especially the design on the floor.
"That's a little morbid." She said and when she looked up at Rowan, her little smile fell. "In a cool way." She quickly added, as if she was already beginning to understand that her friend had something to do with death. Rowan gestured to the office ahead and once they were inside, she closed the door.
Veronica looked at the name plates on the desks, especially the one on Rowan's desk, to the closest right, just beside the door. When she turned around, declining to sit down, she seemed a little nervous.
"I know it's confusing, but believe me when I tell you that you're safe." Rowan said and Veronica looked up with confusion on her face.
"Really? You're worried about my safety? You think I'm afraid of you or something?" she asked, not to be mean, but to say that they were still friends. "I know I was a little unsure about you when you were talking to that damned snake in a strange language, but I know you won't hurt me." she added and leaned on Agmundr's desk. Rowan smiled, remaining silent for a moment and Veronica gave her a slight grin. "Gonna tell me who you are?" she asked and Rowan let out a soft laugh, leaning on her own desk.
She took her name plate and showed it to her friend.
"I'm the Goddess Hel, Ruler of Helheim, Queen of the Underworld." Rowan said, putting her name plate back on her desk. Veronica seemed hesitant, but then smiled, balling her hands into fists like she was at a football game, not that Veronica was ever into watching guys tackle each other for some stupid ball.
"That's so cool." She said, slightly surprising Rowan. "You so look the part. Oh, if those Maple City bitches could see you now." she added and Rowan let out a laugh, shaking her head. "Like the thought hasn't crossed your mind." Veronica added and Rowan looked at her with a smirk.
Rowan contemplated it; the students at Maple City and her previous college had tried to take advantage of her and made her feel like a freak. All that time, she thought they were spreading rumors about her, but it had been true. Still, they treated her like some weirdo.
Did she want to visit them and scare them?
"No." Rowan replied and Veronica stared at her as if she was passing up a wonderful opportunity. "That would suggest they hold some significance in my life." She added and Veronica's lips curled into a large grin.
"Damn, I like this new you!" she added, jumping up and stretching out her arms for a hug. Veronica rarely hugged, so Rowan smiled and hugged her back, as best as she could since Veronica wasn't corporal. Then, Veronica seemed to notice too; she pulled back, looking a little disappointed, but tried to hide it with a smile. "Oh, can you do me a huge favor?" she asked, looking a little nervous.
"Like what?" Rowan asked, curious.
"I doubt anyone knows I'm dead. I got hit from behind and the driver took off. My car rolled into the ditch, which is so deep and covered by bush and trees. I think my body is still there and I don't want it rotting for weeks and attracting wildlife." Veronica said and Rowan gave her a slight smile.
She had an idea and was certain that Veronica would jump at the opportunity.
"I can do one better." Rowan said, making Veronica stare at her in silence with a mixture of curiosity and confusion. "How would you like to work with me?" she asked and Veronica's eyes lit up as they widened with shock.
"What? Seriously?" she asked and Rowan flicked her hand, conjuring her chair to roll out from behind her desk. She gestured to Veronica to sit and smiled as her friend obeyed, too stunned to argue.
"Those you met out there, Bjarni –" Rowan began and Veronica smiled.
"Yeah, that little teen's cool. And those three guys are hot." She replied, giving Rowan a little wink. She had to fight a smile because if she didn't, she'd also laugh.
"Bjarni, Agmundr –" Rowan began and Veronica cut in,
"The black guy?" she asked and Rowan nodded.
"And the other, tattoo guy, is Raganhar." Rowan replied, not forgetting Gadreel. "The other one, strongly silent, is Gadreel. He's an angel." she concluded and Veronica nodded with a smile that said she really found the guys attractive.
"You can say that again." she said and Rowan shook her head.
"No, he really is an angel. And the other three, are my Draugar. They were turned into demons and when I came back, they were loyal to me once again. They're slowly reverting from demon to human Draugar." Rowan said and Veronica looked at her as if she couldn't comprehend any of that.
"What's a drogar?" she asked and Rowan smiled sweetly at her.
"Draugar, the plural form of draugr; as Goddess of Helheim, I was able to create again-walkers. I gave some souls the ability to have their soul remain attached to their bodies so they could walk both realms with me; realms of the living and of the dead, as my servants. I prefer calling them my guards, even if they're more like friends to me." Rowan said and Veronica nodded, listening to every word.
"Like zombies?" she asked and Rowan fought another smile.
"Not quite. My Draugar looked alive and well. They just couldn't stay amongst the living for long periods of time. They were given power so they could help me. At the moment, my Draugar are helping me to sort the souls that come into the Underworld. They escort them to their designated level in Helheim and I was hoping to recruit more help." Rowan replied and, once again, Veronica listened attentively.
"So, are you asking me to me a again-walker?" she asked, not even going to try to pronounce draugr. "You know I'd be down with that." Veronica added with a wide smile.
"You'd have your body, but it would be like possessing it. It's the best way I can describe it." Rowan said and Veronica just smiled, like she didn't need to be told anymore; she was already volunteering to be a draugr. "You'd be giving up your chance to live in Helheim; serving it rather than enjoying a life in it with friends and family." She added, which was the most important part of being a draugr, especially now.
She expected Veronica to mow it over, give it some thought and realize that she wouldn't be able to spend eternity with her family in her own private little world.
"I'm totally on board." She said and Rowan wanted to trying telling her again just what she'd be giving up in exchange of taking something truly wonderful. She didn't want Veronica to think becoming a draugr was like becoming a superhero and that was like just so awesome. However, Veronica held up her hand with a confident smile. "I know, but you're my best friend. I never really had one of those and you're a Goddess, so it's so cool. If you need my help, than I'd really like to hold onto our friendship and rock the Underworld with you." She concluded, her eyes shining.
It was hard to convince Veronica to think carefully about that. Rowan knew that her friend did whatever she felt like doing, never giving it much thought and never regretting a thing.
"Alright." Rowan said, which excited Veronica. She summoned a small dagger and cut into her palm, and then Veronica's, sharing blood so the conversion could b made. Rowan then took her friend's hands and focused on making her a draugr. As she was channeling her power, her memories of making Bjarni, Agmundr, Raganhar, Magni (who later became Azazel) and Sigrid (who later became Lilith) into her Draugar flooded back like it was yesterday. She remembered how to make them into again-walkers.
And it also helps that the blood of Hel holds the key to be again-walkers.
Her aura of power was glowing, casting her ghostly astral self where it seemed to flow over Veronica like fog. If her friend was horrified, she hid it very well. Her eyes continued to shine, reflecting Rowan's glowing eyes, up until she closed her eyes, feeling her body returning, wrapping around her soul. Then, the fog reached into her soul and began giving it a sort of upgrade, giving Veronica the ability to walk amongst the souls with power and the living without the restraints of the human soul.
Rowan could see the change; that was what her Draugar had been before they were tortured and demonized. That was what they were slowly reverting to.
When Veronica opened her eyes, they glowed, much like Rowan's, but the light dimmed and the process was done.
Veronica was a draugr.