"So, you want my...soul? In exchange for whatever I desire and in ten years I will be dragged to Hell?"
The young woman spoke incredulously.
"That pretty much sums it up. It's a good deal, considering the alternative." Crowley grinned.
"The alternative? There's a choice?" The woman leaned forward slightly. Fear forgotten for the moment.
Crowley mirrored her stance, all pretense gone, "There's always a choice, I just want you to understand the consequences of making the wrong one." The room, already dark, darkened further and the young woman's breathing sped up. Despite the heat from the fireplace, her rapid breaths fogged the air. "You don't want to make the wrong choice."
The woman swallowed nervously, Crowley smiled, the room went back to normal. He was actually having fun. This woman was almost too easy to mess with. Not a threat in the least, he could see her teetering on the edge of the abyss. She just needed one little push. "Take a few moments to consider your options." Crowley stood and removed his trademark black jacket and loosened his matching tie.
"It just all too much. I can't imagine anything worth my soul. Why me?" The woman stood and Crowley allowed her to walk past him to the windows. She was so ripe for the picking. Not even a challenge at all. Sparing another glance at the bloodied man in the corner of the room, Crowley knew it would be several more hours before he woke up, if at all. Centuries in Hell's torture chambers taught him what the human body could and could not take.
Unbuttoning his sleeves, he moved over to the window faster that the woman could blink. Standing directly behind her, he whispered in her ear. "Why not you?" Not moving at all as she turned, their bodies just inches apart. He could see the blood rush to her face as she registered his proximity. He could see the need to flee cross her eyes as her body unconsciously tensed. Ready to run. His nostrils flared as he inhaled her scent. Sweat, blood, and wait, was that chocolate? Intrigued he tilted his head closer to hers and that was too much for her. She side-stepped him and made for the door.
Crowley smirked, she really was just too cute. Thinking that he would allow her to get away without a contract. Stretching his senses, she was in the...library? He hadn't taken the time yet to explore the home he was borrowing. This was getting better and better. A sensible person would have make for the outside, but she felt...safe...in the library. Curiouser and curiouser. He continued to examine her emotions for a few moments. Still panicking, but maintaining calm. He'd seen people give up long before now. Maybe he underestimated her. She was looking for something frantically. Deciding he'd let her believe in her safety long enough he popped up to the library.
Staying invisible he just watched the young woman that was starting to really pique his interest. Apparently someone was a collector of old books. There were some books that were very old, maybe as old as he was. She was in the back corner, digging through an antique roll-top desk, scrolls and smaller tomes were pushed aside as she muttered to herself. Finding a small red covered book, she started flipping the pages rapidly.
Crowley was growing impatient with the game, so he flickered the lights a few times and watched her whirl around and scan the room worriedly. Staying invisible he moved closer, "Looking for something ducky?" She froze. She closed the book slowly and turned, keeping the book behind her back. Her eyes flickering around the room again. He stepped ever closer, slamming the doors of the room with a thought. He watched with amusement as she jumped.
Leaning against a shelf he made himself visible to the young woman. He could see her calculating her chances of escape. Making a motion with his hand he froze her muscles in her legs so that she couldn't run. Pushing away from the shelf, he again moved rapidly to just inches in front of her.
"Little girls shouldn't play with things they don't understand." He growled. As he leaned in, she leaned away, putting her hands on the desk behind her for balance. Realizing how vulnerable she had just make herself, she tried to stand back up, but Crowley would have none of it. He moved closer so that they were almost touching and put one arm on the desk. "Now what was the little rabbit looking for in here? Hmmm..." He reached around her with his other arm and snatched the book. Straightening back up he flipped through the book and this eyebrows shot up. Holding the book with one hand and grabbing her chin with the other he forced her head up to meet his irritated gaze. "Now there dear, I'm beginning to think that you are not realizing the serious nature of your situation.." She tried to pull her face away and he tightened his grip, she would have bruises in the morning. Provided he let her live that long. Slamming the book back down on the desk he felt her start to shake as the fear crept back in.
"P-please.." She stammered. "I'm sorry."
"Sorry? We are a bit past sorry..." He interrupted. "You're in way over your head here." Letting her go, he began to pace back and forth. "However, you have some spunk and I like that. You interest me. Keep my interest Ducky." He warned, stopping his movement in front of her again.
"What would you like to know?" She said, barely breathing. Still unable to move, she was cornered and she knew it.
"Ah, that's the spirit. What would I like to know?" Crowley leaned back in. "Let's start with something small." Taking a moment to mull over the question. "Let's start with this surprisingly impressive library. Who's is it? Yours or the toad downstairs?"
She licked her lips nervously, Crowley's eyes followed the movement of her tongue. "Mine, or rather it will be." she spoke. "It belongs to my mother." Looking down at the floor, she continued. "It's what she does. She is a collector of rare antiquities."
"Interesting, where is Mommy dearest then?" When she didn't answer right away, Crowley grabbed the back of her head and threading his fingers in her hair he tilted her face back up to his. "Answer the question please." He growled.
"Hospital. She's in the hospital. That's where we were going when you showed up." Tears in her eyes, the woman met Crowley's gaze.
"We?" Crowley questioned, tilting his head.
"Gaven and I." She clarified. "My husband."
"Ahh, so the toad has a name." Crowley loosened his grip slightly. "I hope you signed a pre-nup."
"What? What are you talking about?"
"Well, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but Gaven was planning on killing you as soon as Mommy kicked it." Crowley watched the woman's eyes and knew the exact moment that she realized he was not kidding. Yet despite that, she struggled to deny it.
"You have to be wrong." She brought her hands up to push him away. Crowley stayed as unmovable as a statue.
"I'm many things, but I am telling the truth and deep down you know it. If you like, we can go downstairs and you can ask him." Crowley made to move back.
"No, I believe you." Crowley stopped. He had definitely underestimated this one.
The phone rang in the corner of the library and he frowned. Moving back he crossed the room in a split second. Grabbing the headset, he made to throw it. "Wait, please. Let me answer it. Please. The woman's voice was pleading. "It's probably the hospital." Crowley turned around, deciding to allow her request. He returned to his spot right in front of her. Handing her the phone, he made no gesture of giving her any privacy.
After a few moments of soft conversation, she handed him back the phone. It disappeared with a thought.
"I take it Mommy is not doing well." Crowley tilted his head. Looking down again, the woman just nodded. Gently putting two fingers under her chin, he moved her face up so that she was once again forced to look at him.
"Please, let me go to her."
"No."
"Crowley, please." He shook his head. "Damn you! I'll do it." Crowley smiled. "But not right now. I need some time to think." Crowley stepped back.
"That's not the way this works." Crossing his arms across his chest.
"Look, I said I'll deal. I just need time." He said nothing, just stood there waiting.
With a heavy sigh, the woman realized she was not getting out of there without some sort of deal. "Can we start with a promise and a show of good faith?"
Crowley raised an eyebrow. "I'm listening." He needed to be careful, he was actually beginning to like her.
"I will promise to make a deal with you, just not tonight." The woman paused and looked at Crowley, and he made the gesture for her to continue. "In return for my promise, I would like for you to heal my bruises and concussion. As far as I'm concerned, Gaven took a header down the stairs. I think it would be advantageous to both of us if that's what he believed."
He began to pace again. Crowley was surprised again by this slender woman standing before him. It has been a while since a human had actually managed to surprise him. Feeling the woman's eyes on him, he stopped pacing.
"How much time would you expect me to wait?"
"Six months." His eyebrows rose again.
"Three months." He countered.
"Two months."
Closing the distance between them, Crowley looked down at the woman. "One month. And that's very generous." The woman closed her eyes for a few seconds and then nodded. With a dismissive motion, he released the muscles in her legs and she wavered for a second in surprise. Wrapping an arm around her back, Crowley held her upright, her arms went automatically to his shoulders. When she was steady again, she looked up at him.
With a dark smile, he held her eyes for a long moment. "What is your name?" He finally asked.
"My name?" She replied confused.
"Yes, your name. For the deal we are about to make."
"Oh, Thea..I mean Althea Rose Griffin."
"Well, Althea Rose Griffin, we have a deal. In one month, I will return and we will deal. As a show of faith, I will heal you and move the toad, I mean Gaven, to the bottom of the staircase."
"Thank you."
"Don't thank me yet, we haven't sealed the deal." Crowley took pleasure at seeing her eyes widen. Moving his other arm to the back of her head and lowering his own he kissed her roughly.
"See you in a month." He said as he disappeared.