Chapter Sixteen : A Soul in the Deposit Box
Crowley flicked his left wrist clearing one of Bobby Singer's cluttered tables. He rolled his eyes ignoring Bobby's agitated look. Bobby was obviously very unhappy about Crowley pulling a disappearing act with the stacks and stacks of paper that had just a second ago littered the square table.
Crowley placed a weathered looking black leather overnight case down on the table ignoring Bobby as the man rolled his wheelchair closer to the table. Bobby watched as Crowley pulled each item from the overnight bag.
Crowley frowned knowing that he'd prefer that Bobby stay out of the way. He couldn't have the git ruining everything. After all the ritual that he was trying to pull off was very delicate. He wasn't even allowing Grace to get too close to the table. He couldn't risk something happening to her if this ritual backfired on him somehow.
Crowley was sure that this ritual would provide him with death's location. It was an ancient ritual, the ritual was older than him even. It had to go back to the dark ages at least, the late thirteenth century he was sure.
Grace and he had spent the earlier part of the day gathering everything that they would need. Actually Crowley had been the one to actually do all the physical work it took to come up with everything they needed. Grace had just stood by feeling a little useless to the cause to be honest. Gathering their supplies wasn't too difficult for Crowley he was King of the Crossroads after all.
Grace stood back sitting on a wooden dining room chair. She peeked around Crowley as she eyed all the ingredients that they had gathered for this ritual : several thick white candles ,a large ancient looking wooden bowl, graveyard dirt, human blood (she didn't even want to know where Crowley had gotten that. All she knew was that they'd gone to a walk in clinic and she had been left in the lobby while Crowley took care of business), a somewhat thick sliver of bone (coming from what she didn't know. A tiny voice in the back of her mind kept telling her it was human bone but she kept trying to ignore it.) , and several herbs with names that she couldn't even begin to attempt to pronounce.
She leaned forward in the chair as she watched Crowley light the candles before mixing all the items together in the wooden bowl. She frowned as Crowley began to murmur long winding words that she didn't recognize at all, it was Latin maybe. At least it sort of sounded like Latin. Crowley's voice grew louder and more demanding as the words seemed to spill out of his mouth so quickly. He was speaking so fast that he was almost stringing all the words together.
Her eyes widened as he suddenly stopped speaking waving his right hand over the table. As soon as he did this the table top sat ablaze the flames reaching so high that they almost touched the ceiling. The blaze didn't last too terribly long before it went out within a blink of an eye. Crowley leaned forward gazing down at the table and Bobby and Grace couldn't help but to lean in as well.
"Chicago." Crowley blurted out before waving his hand over the table causing the candles, the bowl, and remaining ashes to disappear.
Crowley spoke again as Bobby rolled his chair back and reached for the telephone. "I wouldn't call the boys just yet."
"And why not ?" Bobby asked clearly irritated.
"Let's just say I don't trust them to take off just yet, by themselves...Tomorrow. Call them tomorrow. I'm sure they'll have Pestilence's ring by then, we'll go to Chicago then. I assume the angel Castiel will join us." Crowley stated.
Crowley didn't give Bobby any time to argue with him or comment on Castiel's presence.
Crowley snapped causing Grace and he to teleport to the abandoned motel room they'd locked themselves up in a few days ago.
It was a decent hideout. It was an old motel, the kind that still had a real key to open the rooms doors.
They were on the bottom floor, room eighteen. The building was painted an eyesore of an aqua blue though the paint was fading and chipped in places. The roof looked as though it had seen better days and was missing more than a few shingles. The building was surrounded with plant overgrowth and a chain length fence. The parking lot was littered with potholes. The swimming pool was disgusting, filled with moldy algae filled green rain water.
Grace just kept hoping that whomever owned this motel wouldn't realize that they hiding out in it.
Crowley let out a tired sigh as he crossed the tiny room heading for the wooden chest that they kept most of their belongings in. He fished around in it for a bit before he found what he was looking for, his precious bottle of craig.
He poured himself a glass in a red plastic dixie cup. He glanced over at Grace as she plopped down on the sagging queen sized bed and stared up at the cracked water damaged ceiling. He fished out another dixie cup before he poured her a glass as well.
Grace sat up not helping but to yawn as Crowley handed her cup. She felt the bed creak as Crowley sat down beside her kicking his shoes off.
The bed was pathetic really. The headboard was missing, the mattress was sagging in the middle, and it seemed way too small to really be a queen sized bed. She was just thankful that Crowley and she had sheets and a comforter of their own.
So at least they hadn't been forced to sleep on the musty smelling hotel sheets and blankets. They had decided to go pillow free considering the pillows smelled pretty rank and they had some suspicious looking stains on them.
The whole motel room smelled pretty musty actually and Grace had spotted a few mice. She just hoped that they would move on to a new hideout soon.
They sat in silence both of them sipping at their drinks as they mulled over the days events. Grace laid back down holding her glass on top of her stomach being sure to keep a grip on it so it didn't spill.
The TV in the room didn't work even though Crowley had gotten the generator up and working. It was something that had surprised Grace. She couldn't believe that he had gotten the thing up in running especially in a dump this old. The water heater was being uncooperative though, so the water in the bathroom was freezing.
Crowley finished off the last of his drink placing the empty cup on the bedside table. Grace handed him her half empty cup allowing him to finish the rest. She still wasn't one for such hard liquor even though her liquor tolerance had heightened since becoming a demon.
Crowley placed her empty drink beside his before he turned his attention to her. He laid down beside her as he reached out pulling her closer to him. She turned to face him as he spoke "I love you."
She smiled as she responded to him. "I love you too."
He returned her smile unable to resist reaching out and placing his hand against her cheek. He locked his lips with hers their kisses quickly growing passionate.
He ran a hand down her side stopping at her hip. He slid his hand underneath her green t-shirt running his hand along her side caressing her warm skin.
He pulled away pressing his lips to her neck before he began to nibble at the sensitive skin. Grace let out a soft moan as he continued to nibble and suck at her neck. She wrapped her arm around his waist and ran her hand along his clothed back.
He managed to get her to roll over allowing him to place himself over her. He grinded his hips against hers not helping but to groan against her neck as she rocked back against him.
She closed her eyes moaning softly trying to focus on how good her body felt and not her worried mind. She frowned torn between wanting to continue what they were doing and wanting to ask him about what was going to happen tomorrow.
Her worries won out over her hormones as she spoke up. "Crowley."
He stilled his hips and reluctantly pulled away from her neck. He stared down at her trying to ignore just how badly he wanted her.
She let out an anxious sigh as she spoke. "Are you sure death will be in Chicago ?"
He huffed a little irritated that the mood was now dead. He spoke rolling his eyes slightly. "You really know how to kill the mood love."
She gave him an apologetic smile as she spoke. "Sorry. I just...I can't stop thinking about what's going to happen tomorrow...I mean I don't even know what's going to happen tomorrow."
He nodded his head knowing that she did have a point. He had left her in the dark when it came to their plans for tomorrow. He rolled off of her choosing to lay on his side though he didn't move away from her even an inch.
She turned to face him as he spoke. "I'm pretty sure he will be there. If you and I see reapers then I'll know that the ritual was correct."
"Reapers ?" She asked a little thrown off by his comment. Wasn't there only one reaper...the grim reaper, as in death, as in the guy they were hoping to see tomorrow.
"Yes. Death is just the horseman death, and he's the well...original death. He's only out in the open because Lucifer released him. Reapers are sort of Death's children or his employees. They do most of the dirty work. They just collect the general boring run of the mill souls. Now Death he only shows up in times of disaster where there will be multiple deaths. And I don't mean just any disaster. It has to be something major for him to show up. I think the last time he showed up somewhere Noah was building an ark." Crowley explained not helping but to reach over and place an arm around her.
Grace felt her stomach drop as she took this in. "So there's going to be some huge disaster tomorrow in Chicago ?"
Crowley nodded his head not giving her a verbal answer. He frowned as he noticed the look on her face. "You know I won't let anything happen to you darling."
She frowned wanting to point out that she was more worried about the fact that innocent people may die tomorrow. Then again wouldn't more people die if they didn't succeed in getting Death's ring ?
She closed her eyes letting out a defeated sigh as she spoke. "How are we going to get the ring ?"
"We'll figure something out." He responded as he leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss to her lips.
She returned the kiss trying her hardest to push the anxiety bubbling within her down. She pulled away suddenly as she remembered Crowley's earlier comment about an angel named Castiel. "What are angels like ?"
Crowley raised an eyebrow not helping but to chuckle slightly. "Well I can guarantee you that they aren't nearly as fun as I am"
She rolled her eyes getting that he wasn't going to give her any useful information.
He pressed his lips to hers once again and she did her best to ignore her worry cluttered brain.
She couldn't help but to dread tomorrow.
Crowley and Grace suddenly appeared in Bobby Singer's kitchen. Grace smirked a little amused and not surprised that Crowley grabbed himself a glass helping himself to a bottle of Bobby's whiskey.
"Don't be so modest Bobby. I barely helped you at all." Crowley stated as he picked up his glass making his way out of the kitchen.
Grace stood beside Crowley as he leaned against the door-frame. He ignored Castiel staring at Grace and he with interest. He spoke up raising the glass to his lips as he turned his attention to the Winchesters. "Hello Boys, pleasure excreta."
Before Crowley took a drink he sniffed the liquor quickly pulling the drink away from his face shaking his head a bit as he tried to get over the clear scent of holy water mixed within the liquor. He could recognize holy water anywhere. It sounded strange but he could almost smell it within the glass. It made his sinuses burn.
He placed the glass on a nearby bookshelf as he spoke up smiling a little. "Go ahead tell them. There's no shame in it."
Sam turned to face Bobby unhappy about Crowley and Grace's presence and what it had to to with Bobby. "Bobby, tell us what ?"
Bobby shrugged his shoulders looking a little sheepish as he replied. "The worlds going to end it seems stupid to get sentimental over one little soul."
"You sold your soul. " Dean exclaimed disbelief and irritation edged in his voice.
Crowley spoke stopping Dean from going into a full tirade. "More like pawned it."
Grace spoke up trying to defuse the situation. "We fully intend to give it back."
"Well then give it back right now !" Dean practically shouted.
Sam suddenly spoke not helping but to be curious. "Did you kiss him ?"
"Sam." Dean interjected not wanting to know if the man he had always considered to be like a father to him and Sam, had kissed a demon or not.
Sam turned to face his brother. "I'm just wondering."
They turned to face Bobby who shook his head trying his best to deny what had happened the day before. "No !"
Grace shook her head as Crowley pulled out his phone proudly showing off the picture that he had on it of Bobby and him sealing the deal to the infuriated Winchester brothers.
The Winchesters both stared at the picture a little freaked out by the sudden turn of events.
"Why'd you take a picture ?" Bobby asked.
Crowley turned the picture towards him looking down at it as he spoke up deciding to make the situation even more uncomfortable. "Why'd you use tongue ?"
The boys stared at Crowley before they turned to face Bobby looks of discomfort and disbelief clear on both their faces.
Dean stood up suddenly breaking the short awkward silence. "Okay you know what, I'm sick of this. Give him his soul back now."
"We can't do that." Crowley replied as he shoved his phone into his coat pocket.
"You can't or you wont." Dean asked making it clear that he wasn't going to leave Crowley alone until Bobby got his soul back.
"I won't alright. It's insurance." Crowley stated trying to make it clear that Bobby wasn't getting his soul back anytime soon.
Dean took a couple of steps back thrown off by the mention of insurance. "What's that supposed to mean ?"
Crowley spoke his voice stern almost like a parent scolding their child. "You kill demons. Gigantor over there has a temper issue about it. But you won't kill Grace or I. Not as long as we have that soul in the deposit box."
Bobby spoke disgust and disbelief clearly evident in his voice. "You son of a bitch."
Crowley frowned quickly growing irritated and bored with this entire conversation. He spoke raising his voice. "I'll return it. Once this is all done and over with and she and I can walk away unharmed from this. Do we all understand each other !?"
Grace stood leaning against the door-frame that Crowley had been leaning against earlier.
She turned her gaze towards Castiel unable to stop herself from staring. He wasn't exactly what she had pictured in her mind when she thought of angels.
When she had thought of angels she always pictured what you were shown in church or on the occasional Christmas card. Beings dressed in long robes or togas or whatever you wanted to call it, with magnificent stark white wings and bright shining halos over their heads. And they always hung out on clouds and carried harps or horns.
Seeing Castiel though made all her previous ideas of what an angel looked like sound really ridiculous.
He looked to be in his late twenties or early thirties. He was dressed simply in a pair of dark slacks, a white shirt, a blue tie, and a tan trench coat. He looked more like a guy on his way to the office to catch up on some work than an angel of the lord.
She frowned as a sudden thought entered her mind. Was he possessing someones body ? Or were demons the only ones who needed a meatsuit ?
She felt a chill run down her back thankful that she still had her own body. She still feared that one day she may have to go out looking for a meatsuit of her own.
She felt more than a little bit uncomfortable in his presence. It was almost as though she couldn't even stand having to be in the same room as him. She guessed that made sense though seeing her status as the future Queen of Hell.
Grace imagined that Castiel viewed her as nothing more than an abomination. An immoral disgusting being who should be burning in the pits of hell instead of standing in Bobby Singer's kitchen.
Castiel was sitting across the room on an armchair keeping silent not even paying attention to her staring at him. Bobby sat in his wheelchair behind his desk ignoring her as well. The Winchesters had gone outside. Crowley was in the living room doing god knows what.
She made her way into the living room where Crowley was shuffling through the newspapers sitting on Bobby Singer's coffee table.
He chuckled as she sat down on the couch letting out a huff. "Finally get tired of gawking at the angel love ?"
She shook her head sighing as she began to ramble a bit. "It's...he's just so...different from what I expected I guess. I feel like I can't be around him. I just feel like...I don't know...like I just keep thinking I'm some kind of horrible disgusting thing standing in front of an angel."
Crowley frowned as he turned to face her. He felt guilt stir within him as he sat down on the sofa beside her. After all he had made her what she was.
Then again if he had to do it all over again he wouldn't change a thing. He knew it was selfish, but he didn't want to go back to the way things had been before. Before he had her.
Even though he had taken so much from her. He silently promised himself that he would make it up to her somehow. Somehow he'd ease her sorrows.
He tried to push the guilt out of his mind as he leaned in and pressed his lips to hers. He pulled away sighing as he spoke his voice stern as he scolded her. "You are not disgusting. Don't ever let me hear you say anything like that ever again."
She winded her eyes a little surprised by his tone of voice. He spoke making sure to keep his voice low from any prying ears in the other room. "You are the only being in the entire universe that I care for. You mean everything to me. There is nothing disgusting about you. "
She did her best to give him a soft relaxed smile though the feeling that she was an immoral horrible thing still lingered within her.
She spoke keeping her voice low as well. "I love you."
He pressed his lips to hers before he spoke his voice almost a whisper. "I love you too."
They sat in silence for a moment before Crowley turned his attention back to the coffee table. "Help me find today's paper. A national one, like USA today or something like that."
She nodded her head helping him shuffle through the clutter until Crowley finally spoke. "Aha just what we were looking for. Take a look at this darling."
She took the paper from him staring down at the headline a little confused about why Crowley was so obsessed with the newspaper all the sudden.
She quickly realized just why the newspaper was a big deal as she read the headline : Nevieus Pharmaceuticals Rushing Delivery of It's New Swine Flu Vaccine.
She frowned at the mention of Nevieus Pharmaceuticals. This couldn't be good.