Chapter Twenty Two : Purgatory
Grace sat back in the large oval shaped sunken in bathtub her back resting against Crowley's chest. His chest hair tickled her back as she leaned over to the side reaching for the ceramic tea cup that was sitting on the stark white tile beside the tub.
She took a sip from the cup the warm honey and lemon tea soothing her throat. Hells dry climate had made her throat raw and the tea was the only thing that seemed to alleviate the dryness and the pain.
She placed her cup down as she relaxed back against Crowley. She gave an apprehensive glance at the bathroom door hoping that Crowley had in fact locked it tightly shut. She didn't want anyone interrupting this moment.
Her first day in hell had been spent in the bedroom of their living quarters, sleeping heavily. Crowley had assured her that the source of her exhaustion was just her body's way of adjusting to the time change in hell. One day in hell was equal to at least three days on earth. So in an odd way she felt very jet-lagged.
She closed her eyes her mind drifting as she inhaled the scent of the rose scented bath bubbles. Crowley wrapped his arms around her waist resting one hand on her thigh as the other hand caressed her stomach.
Crowley was unable to let his overworked mind take even a short rest as he focused on all the problems he now faced as King of Hell.
A few demons had left hell taking to earth and occupying meatsuits, refusing to accept him as their new ruler. The ones who had stayed were untrustworthy to say the least.
They had seen him do enough damage to anyone that dared openly defy him that they feared him, but he was unsure how long their fear would keep them in line.
He was reluctant to bring up these issues to Grace. He had wanted her to regain her strength first both mentally and physically before he put more strain on her psyche. But he feared waiting to say anything for too terribly wrong. He couldn't stand the thought of something happening to Grace if she got caught up in him being overthrown by hells occupants.
He sighed trying his best to enjoy Grace's skin against his. He could admit that he was still growing accustomed to the love that Grace gave him.
How gentle the love she gave him was took his breath away at times. As a demon he had grown familiar to a rougher type of treatment and he had enjoyed it.
He feared that one day Grace may discover this side to him. The side that reveled in torture and pain and cruelty. He knew that if she witnessed this side of him she would think that he was no better than Eli.
And was he really ? How many times in the past had he tortured and gotten some sort of sick twisted pleasure from it ? He was a demon after all. Sadism and masochism were second nature to him.
He knew that she would have nothing but disgust for him if she knew that he could be this atrocious. He'd had no shame for this side of him until he had someone who showed him that he could still feel anything different.
Crowley feared that one day these types of behaviors would become second nature to Grace as well. With time she would change. Hell would alter her personality. It was a fact.
It pained him when he realized that one day his Grace may be just like him. Evil. A wicked being that gained gratification from sadism and pain.
He dreamed of it at times, times when he did sleep. The nightmares plagued him. Visions of his Gracie so empty and wicked. No longer all the things he loved about her. Her sweetness and her gentle ways dead. So horrid. In his dreams she bathed in blood , she was depraved and savage. She tortured and killed and maimed and laughed as she did it. She clearly enjoyed it and was so locked into a never ending blood lust.
These dreams haunted him because he knew that there was a possibility that they may one day become true.
After all he hadn't been this way when he had first come to hell. When he had been Fergus. Yes he had indulged in all sorts of hedonism and irresponsibility when he had been human but he hadn't been a wicked man deep down inside.
He had simply been flawed, a human being. With time and experience in hell, he had changed though. He had become the being he was today.
If it could happen to him then it could very well happen to Grace.
And Crowley knew that if and when it did he would have no one to blame but himself. He was responsible for her.
He closed his eyes doing his best to wipe these troublesome thoughts from his mind.
Crowley opened his eyes as he cleared his throat. He spoke up knowing that there was no time like the present to discuss his fears about his stronghold over hell. "Darling what did I say is the worst thing about demons ?"
Grace opened her eyes frowning as she answered his question. "That they're demons."
Crowley made a hmmph sound keeping silent for a short moment before he spoke again. "Exactly spoiled brats the whole lot of them."
Grace twisted slightly turning to face him as she reached up placing a damp hand to his cheek. "Talk to me baby."
"You're the only one who can get away with calling me that love. Just avoid that pet-name in public and we'll be good." He stated wanting to avoid talking about the obvious elephant in the room."
She gave him a half smile having grown use to his grumpiness. She spoke trying to make her voice sound as firm as she could manage. "So you've told me. Now tell me what you're thinking. I know things aren't peachy down here. You looked like twice run over garbage when you came home to me."
"Well that's one way to put it." He replied acknowledging her twice run over garbage comment.
She gave him a stern look as she spoke. "Spit it out. Tell me what's on your mind."
"I'm going to be honest with you love. My position in hell is...fragile. I have an idea of how I can perhaps give myself and you some much needed strength and power down here. I know you aren't going to like it though." He explained closing his eyes for a moment knowing that she would ask about his plan.
Grace let out a sigh her stomach twisting into knots as she heard word of a plan. It seemed that her afterlife would be full of schemes and the pure need to survive. "And what's this plan that I'm going to hate so much. Tell me, I may surprise you."
Crowley raised an eyebrow sure that she wouldn't surprise him. "Purgatory."
"Purgatory ?" She parroted raising an eyebrow herself.
"Yes. Just think about it Gracie a place full of souls plump and ripe for the picking. And not just any souls fanged, clawed, and powerful souls. Perfect to build an army. All I'd have to do is open the place up and snatch up some souls."
Grace tilted her head to the side still trying to get over the whole concept that there was a purgatory. "So there's such a thing as a purgatory ?"
"Of course. Where do you think all the creatures that Moose and Squirrel hunt go when they die ? They have to go somewhere." Crowley hypothesized.
She nodded her head knowing that what he had said made sense. After all there were no vampires or shapeshifters wandering around hell and she assumed they weren't in heaven.
"So how would you even open it ?" She asked her curiosity winning out over the reluctance that was swirling deep down in her gut.
Crowley let out a sigh. "This is the part you're going to hate. I need some help. Some winged help. Castiel and perhaps the Winchesters. I'll have to round up some creatures and...work my magic on them to see if they know a way to open it. I need the boys to round them up and I need some extra power and the way I see it where can I get more power than from an angel ?."
Grace let out a huff at the mention of Castiel and the boys. She had hoped that she would never encounter them ever again.
She felt a chill run down her spine knowing that when Crowley said work his magic he probably didn't mean just make a few deals.
She wasn't stupid she knew that he must have tortured at one point. She knew that he had killed, hell she had seen him kill.
At times Grace wondered if she must be sick to love him. Knowing that she loved someone despite the horrible things they did made her head spin.
She took a deep breath reminding herself that her situation was different. Any rules and social moral codes that may have applied to her life as a human were long dead.
This was her survival. Crowley did what he had to to survive. And she knew that deep down inside she would probably do the same if it was between continuing her afterlife and dying once again, she would do just about anything.
She rolled her eyes as she spoke up not believing that she was actually condoning this. "I don't like it, but I have a feeling that there's no other way. Is there ?"
"Fraid not love." Crowley answered ruining any hope that was left within her that there was any other way to assure their place in hell.
"I'm not going to lie. I don't know quite how I'm going to go about it just yet. I'll need to talk to the angel of course. I need some leverage over him though. Something to stop him from trying to smite me on the spot." Crowley concluded.
Grace felt her blood run cold at the thought of Crowley being smited. She couldn't be without Crowley.
She unthinkingly tightened her grasp around Crowley's waist. He apparently took notice to it as he tightened his hold on her as well.
She closed her eyes for a moment wanting to forget reality for a moment just enjoy being here with Crowley.
She swallowed the lump in her throat as she pressed a quick kiss to Crowley's lips. "I know that you'll figure something out. You always seem to."
He gave her a tired smile hoping that she was right to have this much faith in him.
She changed the subject giving him a flirtatious smile, wanting to forget all their problems for a moment. "So I do believe that once upon a time you promised me that we would make love in a bathtub. How to you feel about owning up to that promise right now ?"
He smirked as he responded. "Well I wouldn't want to break a promise to a beautiful woman."
Grace managed to turn around completely and straddle his hips as she pressed her lips to his. He returned her kisses with just as much passion wrapping his arms around her waist. He slid his hands down settling them at her hips as their tongues continued to battle for dominance.
She placed one hand on his shoulder allowing it to rest there as she placed the other hand against the back of his head messing his short hair.
She made a soft sound of pleasure as he pulled away from the kiss choosing instead to focus his lips and his tongue on her bare breasts.
She continued to run her fingers through his hair not helping to to giggle as his stubble tickled against her breasts. She felt him chuckle the vibrations hitting her breast as his tongue teased her hardened nipple.
Grace ran her hand down his chest reaching in between them allowing her hand to stroke his hardening member.
He pulled away from her breast letting out a low groan his eyes looking up at her. He let out a low growl his pleasure hitching when he spotted a playful little grin on her face.
She stroked him slowly and lightly teasing him, he rocked his hips attempting to intensify the sensations. She placed a gentle hand on his hip stilling his rocking hips.
He groaned knowing that he had the power to push her hand away but he resisted the urge wanting to enjoy her teasing ,her show of dominance causing his arousal to heighten.
She pressed her lips to his neck allowing her tongue to trace his pulse point as her hand continued its leisurely pace.
She finally removed her hand from his hip allowing him to thrust against her hand which was still going far too slow for him.
Crowley took her by surprise snapping his fingers causing them to appear in their bedroom. He took her moment of shock to his advantage as he pushed her back against the multitude of pillows.
He pressed his lips to hers for only a moment before he began to move downwards taking his sweet time as she had done with him.
She let out a little whine causing him to chuckle as he moved to her inner thighs bypassing the one place she wanted his mouth the most as he continued to move downwards.
He moved down her legs pressing kisses as he went. He reached her feet pressing a kiss to the sides of each foot. He took his time as he began to kiss his way back up her legs.
She clutched the sheets tightening her grip as he finally reached her center. He ran his tongue along her taking note of just how wet she was before pulling away and speaking. "You're nice and ready for me aren't you darling ?"
She let out another whine nodding her head in response. He smirked taking in the sight of her pleased face before he returned his attention to her center.
He used his tongue and his fingers to pleasure her, his member throbbing at the sound of her moans.
He kept his eyes turned upwards watching her face, her eyes screwed shut and little pants and appreciative sounds coming from her open mouth.
Her hips left the bed as she hit her climax and he lapped at her opening as she came down from her high.
She opened her eyes panting as she recovered from her high. He moved his lips back up her body before he reached her lips.
She placed a hand against his cheek deepening this kiss her juices on his tongue.
Once she regained her strength she took the opportunity to push him back against the bed moving over on top of him.
She lowered herself over his waiting member grunting slightly as her walls adjusted to his sheer size. She wasn't sure if she'd ever get use to him.
She closed her eyes as she began to grind and move against him. He placed his hands on her hips encouraging her movements.
He reached a hand forward softly rubbing her clitoris as she continued to move. His fingers pressed against her made the sensations all the more intense.
She was sure that it wasn't going to be long before she hit another climax. She began to speed up her movements wanting to please him as much as he was pleasing her.
She opened her eyes taking him by surprise as he noticed something. Her eyes had changed to black. She let out a moan that bordered on being a scream as her walls tightened around him.
The sight of her eyes and the sensation of her tightening around him was all it took for him to come. His his hips shot up a growl escaping his throat as he emptied himself in her.
She collapsed on him as her tightness milked his orgasm out of him.
He wrapped his arms around her the both of them soaking with sweat and lingering bathwater. The bedsheets below them were damp from their sudden appearance from the bathtub.
He frowned as he noticed that she had buried her head against his neck her body shaking from more than just her coming down from her high.
"Look at me darling." He stated his voice stern as he realized just what was wrong.
Her eyes had never flashed before.
Grace reluctantly pulled her head away looking down at him. He reached up caressing her cheek as he stared into her eyes.
Crowley could now see that they weren't completely black there was a hint of red making them a seemingly perfect mixture of black and red almost like a dried blood.
"Do you think I'm gross ?" She asked her voice breaking his heart.
She sounded so small and afraid. He silently berated himself, He had made her what she was.
He shook his head doing his best to reassure her. "I think you're beautiful and I love you so much."
She frowned her eyes still not changing as tears began to leak down her cheeks. She leaned into his hand before she laid back down resting her head on his chest.
Crowley ran his hand up and down her back as he began to soothe her. "Its' alright love. They'll go back to normal soon. I promise. It's alright darling I promise. It's okay."