So I made my mark in Hell. An event that would not be forgotten quickly. Crowley was anxious about it all, how the demons would take such brutality from their newly appointed Queen - but that was yet to be seen. Crowley's anxieties would have to be endured, for tonight at least, seeing as he'd planned this celebration for my coronation - our 'marriage', as the demons saw it.

The hall was full, despite Crowley having said there would only be a few people. I smiled, putting on a gentler appearance after my outburst earlier. I hadn't changed, my outfit, just swapped my trainers for heels. Crowley had changed his suit, he now wore a black and red suit, as a pose the the fully black one he'd wore previously. We'd spent the beginning of the eventing side by side, being congratulated by so many vaguely familiar faces I didn't care about. Then we'd wandered, chatting with our guests and trying to form new bonds and alliances individually.

But politics and power play weren't the topics on peoples' minds when I approached. No - ill disguised questions about my strength and powers, about the 'incident' earlier, my past, my relationships, my relationship with Crowley, details of Lucifer and I in the Cage, details of Lucifer and I when he managed to escape, had i been to Heaven? Was I an angel? Or a demon? Why was I really 'marrying' Crowley? I answered vaguely every time, keeping a straight face and a pretty smile on at all times.

The crowd mainly consisted of old demons - names I recognised, but were unsure of; I didn't know their stories, but they knew mine. They all knew mine. They made casual remarks about scars and wings and cages. I smiled, laughed coldly at their jokes. They would know I was unamused, but I would give them no proof of spite towards them, even if they were going to keep pushing me like that. I honestly thought they wanted to see if I would snap again. But I wouldn't. I wouldn't let myself now.

"...you must feel like a caged bird down here, mustn't you?" the demon grinned, maliciously, though it was clear that nothing violent was going to occur.

"Perhaps sometimes - I'm used to my freedom at all times, but Crowley won't keep me locked up here. It's not like he's in control of me" I smiled thinly.

"Oh, I see" the demon began to sneer, ready to make another comment. But his face changed as I spotted Crowley approaching.

"My King" I greeted, a genuine smile growing on my face for the first time that night.

"My Queen" he took one of my hands in his as he wrapped an arm around my shoulders, drawing me to him to kiss my cheek. "Do you mind, I'm in need of the Queen's company"

"Not at all" the demon said through a fake smile, irritated that he hadn't got to finish his 'conversation'.

"Nice to meet you" I said sweetly, walking away with Crowley's arm around me.

Crowley steered me to a quieter corner of the hall, sitting in one of the many sofas arranged around the place. I sat close beside him. "I could see you were growing tired of our guests, Love" he said softly as he wrapped his arm around my waist.

"Is it that obvious?" I said, "Of course I am Crowley - they're all just looking for gossip. This is Hell, I thought I'd left that kind of thing up on Earth with the humans!"

"They're stirrers, is all. They want something no-one's heard before, to show off to each other. Your story's out there for all to know, but not the details - that's what they want. They've never had a chance to pin you down until now." he kissed my forehead. "They're all jealous they don't know you like I do" he laughed quietly.

"Mm, I don't think there's anyone anymore who knows me like you" i mused solemnly, thinking back on Gabriel and Balthazar. What would they think if they could see me now? What would they say?

He wrapped both arms around me, pulling us closer together, "Mav? Are you alright, Love?"

"I'm fine" What would they think of me now? They were always so protective, would they have even let me do this? Balthazar would have had something to say, Gabriel would have... I don't even know what Gabriel would have done.

"Don't start with that" he growled softly.

I sighed, "I'm... overwhelmed, I think - with everything being so busy the last few days... now it's done... I don't know. Then just.. I think I just want to go to sleep"

"Soon Love, I promise" he said, pressing a kiss to my temple, and mentally, I was preparing for what was to come.