After Crowley and I lay in bed for a while, I finally made my decision. "Take me to get the necklace, I'm ready to do this," I said finally. "As you wish," Crowley replied. Within seconds in was fully dressed, in all black jeans and a top with a leather jacket and boots, and we were standing in the bunker.
"Lovely little trick you pull voiding all the wards for me," Crowley whispered in my ear. I looked at him and rolled my eyes, but a smile broke out on my face and I stuck my tongue out at him. He smiled back as I turned to reach into the drawer beside my bed. I knocked on and removed the false bottom revealing the old wooden box with intricate designs etched on it, along with the spell that protected whatever that was inside of it.
"Let's go somewhere open," I said as I turned back around, "this spell is very powerful. It tends to break things, cause fires, wind, lightning, you name it. I'd hate to ruin our home, and I really don't wanna ruin this place either."
"Anything else here you want?" he asked before we left. "No," I answered with finality. "Not a thing." He nodded and we were off again. This time we landed in a clearing in the woods. This is it, this is the place where it all comes together.
I opened the box up, revealing the crystal necklace inside. The crystal was rare, hell I didn't even remember the name of it, all I knew was it was the only thing that could hold my power, and the last thing that could ever hold it again. Meaning, I could never bind my magic again, I'd be powerful and young until the end of time. Which also meant, yes, I was immortal. It was something I never wanted the Winchesters to know, but they'd eventually see that I wouldn't age now the binding spell is off.
I pulled the necklace out and put the box on the ground. If it didn't get destroyed during the spell, it could be used again. I sighed and turned to Crowley, remembering I needed a few things for this quick, but not so simple spell. "Could you get me a silver dagger and bowl, some dirt from Jerusalem, water from the dead sea, some holy fire, and an angel blade?"
"Why does this spell seem so...holy?" Crowley asked, sounding uncomfortable.
"Because an archangel left it for me?" I winced, "I know, I know, you didn't know that part, but, I mean, I am the only one of my kind. God created me himself as his last special project, you know. Of course he left me with a guardian archangel who told no one about me, and had me be, eventually, found by the famous Winchesters. Not to mention he instilled me with free will and all that, so I'm not sure how happy he'd be with me appearing to go to the dark side...if he'd even care. Anyways, can we get this on with?"
"Which archangel?" Crowley asked, ignoring my probing to go on.
I rolled my eyes and sighed, "Does it even matter? They're all dead, my idiot just had to go and get himself killed by Lucifer." Crowley gave me a curious, irritated look, wanting me to reply to his question. "Gabriel, it was Gabriel. The rogue archangel. The one who went far off of the straight and narrow. Also known as The Trickster and Loki, the demigod. I'm sure you've heard of him."
"I assume the Winchesters know nothing about your relationship with Gabriel?" he replied.
"Not a thing. We kept each others secrets, we were close. Then he went and played the hero. Sam and Dean didn't know a thing. The night he got killed, I could've won an Oscar that night. I didn't shed a single tear in front of them. Although, when I was alone, I kinda had a nervous breakdown. My best friend died as I watched on with nothing to do because I had bound my powers. Yeah, I was an idiot."
Crowley pulled me into his arms and comforted me, something I never got after Gabriel died. "I'm sorry to hear that, love. If you ever want to let it out and talk about it, you know I'm here."
"Of course, idiot," I giggled, "I know that. Now, will you please go get the things I need. I'm anxious as hell."
"I'll have some of my demons go get some of them for us. I'll steal some holy oil from Dean's trunk. I'll be back before you know it."
"Okay," I nodded as he disappeared. I stood there remembering old times and staring at the, seemingly, ordinary object I held in my hand. Getting rid of the bind was something I had wanted to do since the day I put it on. Now, thanks to Crowley who was probably, no, definitely the love of my life, I was going to. I was so excited, but so damn nervous. It was going to hurt like hell.
Not even five minutes later, Crowley came back with everything I had asked for. "Okay, here's everything," he said as he sat them at my feet. "Thanks," I smiled and kissed him on the cheek. "Time to get to work."
I took time placing everything I needed around the bowl in easy to get to places. I, finally, took a seat on the ground with everything placed in front of me as Crowley stood and watched on. I sighed and looked up him, "Hey, listen, no matter what happens, you don't interfere, don't touch me, don't get anywhere near me until I tell you it's over. Got it?"
He looked on apprehensively, but nodded in agreement. This was going to get bad from the way he would view it. I was going to be in pain, burning, searing pain, but it was going to be worth it. It was time to go back to the old me, the real me.
"I love you Crowley," I whispered to him reassuringly. He smiled and whispered back, "I love you Ava. Let's get you back to the way you're supposed to be." I smiled back and begun.
I started speaking in an old language no one would ever know, offering up the water first, then the dirt, earth, second, air in the form of breath from my own lungs third, and finally, pouring the holy oil in and lighting it with matches Crowley provided seeing as I had forgotten to ask for them in the first place. After I did that I recited the rest of the spell, going on about the power and the offerings and sacrifice made to unbind my God given magic. Then, I took the silver dagger in hand and cut my palm deep enough to make blood pour freely.
I took the crystal in my hand and recited the final part of the spell. I squeezed the crystal into my hand and let it get covered generously with blood, and finally, dropped it in the bowl into the fire. As I was doing all of this the wind was blowing wildly and a circle of fire had formed around me. And with the final words, as I picked up the angel blade and slammed it down through the crystal, a bolt of lightning came down from the sky above the bowl and struck both it and me.
With that strike came the pain. It was an excruciating rush as the powerful magic flowed through my body. A body that hasn't had this much magic in many a year, and it hurt, it hurt like hell. But, it was all about sacrifices, the blood, the pain. It was something I had to give up and go through to have it all back. And it was totally worth it when it finally settled.
I stood and took it all in. The circle of fire around me had burned out, and the bowl that had laid in front of me was now a pool of molten silver on the ground. The blade survived, as did the dagger and the box. There was nothing left of the crystal or the necklace it was strung on. Of course, I knew that would happen. Finally, a few feet away from where the circle had burned, Crowley stood looking at me in wonder.
I could see myself in his eyes. My eyes were brighter, like amber with light shining through, and when they saw the pride in Crowley's eyes, the fire came out in them. My hair was shiny and fiery red, no longer the dull brownish red it used to be. My skin seemed to have a glow about it, and I seemed to give off an invisible aura of confidence. The real Ava was finally back, and so proud to be in her skin.
"You look," he paused, trying to find the perfect word, "ravishing. So, so beautiful. Come here." With those words I crossed the short distance between us and went into his arms. I felt something I haven't felt in a long time, if ever. I felt...home. Next thing I know, there are tears streaming down my cheeks. What the fuck happened to no longer being weak?
"Crying doesn't make you weak, Ava, it makes you human," Crowley said as if he read my thoughts. "How did you just do that?" I asked in confusion. "Because you wanted me to." I had forgotten about things like this. Letting others I trusted hear my thoughts was just one of the many things I could do no one else could. I could hear theirs too if I wanted.
"Well I'm actually not human," I said as I put my arms around his neck. "Not really, not a mortal one at least. No human has the ability to possess the power I do. Although, I am in a human body, but I'm not exactly an angel, or a demon, or a leviathan either. I don't really even have a name for what I am, and seeing how I'm the only one of my kind, what's the point?"
"You're Ava, that's all that matters to me, love," Crowley said as his arms were around my waist. I giggled and brought my face closer to his, "And that means everything to me my love." And with that, we closed in the rest of the space between us and our lips met again.
"Okay, okay, enough," I giggled again after many long minutes. "We have work to do."
"What do you mean?" he asked curiously.
"They need to know Crowley," I sighed, "I mean come on, I've been with them for, like, ever now. They deserve to know, whether you think so or not." He tried to interrupt, "No," I spoke quickly, "I don't care what you think about this one Crowley. I have to tell them. Sam has been like a brother to me, and Dean, Dean needs to know where we lie."
"You know its going to be nothing but trouble," Crowley said as I paused to catch my breath.
"Yeah, it is, but I have no other choice. They need to know we're together now. Dean needs to know our relationship is finally over. He's free now. He can screw any dumb whore he wants to now, if he hasn't already during these past however many years."
"And if he has?" Crowley asked. "His ass is mine," I said proudly, the fire returning to my eyes again.
"Oh, how I love when your eyes do that," he said as he caressed my face.
"See, you demons aren't the only one's who can do something cool with your eyes," I laughed, "sometimes I'm not aware when they get all fiery, but I can make the fire circle them on my own. Pretty cool, eh?"
"Fascinating," he replied, kissing me once again.
"Hey now! Stop distracting me," I scolded. "That's not fair!"
"I could be even more unfair," he grinned, dropping his hand down to caress my thigh. "Oh you're being very bad," I said as I moved my hand down his chest, creeping lower and lower.
"Who's being unfair now?" he purred. As I reached his hard member, I took a firm grip and stroked him once though his pants. "You have no idea how unfair I can be," I replied with a smirk. "Show me," he panted.
"I don't think you want me to, I can be very unfair." I stroked him harder; his breathing started to pick up even more.
He breathed, "I. Want. You. To. Show. Me."
"Okay, if you insist." And with that, I held up my hand, wiggled my fingers in goodbye, and disappeared leaving Crowley a panting mess.
I landed in the parking lot of a hotel in the town I had met Crowley in. It was there where Dean's precious "baby" was resting. The black Impala was sitting there all by its lonesome, and I'd be lying if I said destroying it beyond repair didn't cross my mind. But, I was a sucker for old school American muscle, as much as I was for the high class European. I guess you could say I was that way with my cars and my men. Although I did prefer those Europeans more these days.
Anyways, I went to the trunk to get out my bag. As I was doing that, I guess Sam and Dean had decided to leave their room, because they had discovered me taking my things out of the trunk. When I heard my name come out of Sam's mouth, my stomach dropped.
"Oh my God, you made it," Sam said to me as he ran up to me and held me in his arms. I ducked out quickly. Dean came then and I avoided his arms even quicker.
"Woah, what's up with you?" Dean asked offensively.
"You're kidding, right?" I said in shock.
"They don't remember," Crowley's voice huffed from somewhere close behind. "I figured it'd be best if they didn't. I had some demons handle that while you did your spell. I'm going to show up now. Oh, and you're going to be punished for that little tease you pulled later."
"The girl has something to say," Crowley said as he appeared, "don't you, love?" Really Crowley? You were going to be punished for that later, too.
"What's going on, Ava?" Sam asked me as Dean crossed his arms in a macho way.
"Sam, Dean," I sighed, "I'm leaving. I have no use for hunting anymore. Things have changed, quickly, and I just don't want to do this anymore."
"What do you mean leaving?" Dean asked, hurt in his voice.
"She means exactly that, Squirrel, she's leaving. Does she need to spell it out for you?" Crowley added.
"Crowley!" I hissed, "Dean I'm sorry, I..." Crowley cut me off, "It's over. I'll say it for you. Like you will even care. She knows about all those girls Dean. Although, we both wonder which ones you slept with. Did you sleep with any of them? Oh please do admit to it, so I can kill you for cheating on her, for hurting her."
"What the fuck, Ava?" Dean asked angrily, "You're breaking up with me through Crowley? And what are you even talking about? And why does he even care."
"Dean, please, just tell me," I begged, "Did you have sex with anyone while we were together? If you tell me, Crowley and I will go quietly. But if you lie to me...You don't even want to know what will happen."
"Like hell we will," Crowley growled.
"Crowley shut up for like five seconds please."
"Yes, okay, yes" Dean sighed.
"You bastard," Crowley and I said at the same time.
What happened next was quick. I went forward to hit Dean in the head with the butt of my gun that I had hanging out of the back of my jeans, but I found myself blasted back by a force of power that could only belong to one thing. An angel. Castiel had just arrived.
"What's going on here?" Cas asked as Crowley rushed to my side.
"That's what I want to know," Sam added. "You cheated on Ava? How could you Dean?"
"I wanted to tell you, to break up with you the first time, Ava. I just couldn't. I love you, Ava, I do, but I'm just not a guy who can stay with one woman. Not now, at least. I couldn't resist. I'm sorry."
"Oh go to hell, Dean," I spat. "You're so full of shit. You loved it all. The thrill of cheating, the possibility of getting caught. That got you off, too, didn't it?"
"Ava, I'm so sorry," Sam spoke after what felt like forever.
"Yeah? Well, I'm not. I'm done. I've got my things. Can we go home now, please Crowley?"
"Home?" Sam and Dean asked at the same time.
"That's right, Moose. We're together now...finally." Crowley said this with a shit-faced grin on his face.
"Ava, is this true?" Castiel asked me.
"Yes, it's true," I said as I looked them all in the eye. "And there's nothing any of you could say or do to change that. I've actually liked Crowley for a long time. I just never could admit it to myself. I have now, though. Crowley's helped me. He's helped me see myself as the powerful woman I am meant to be. I deserve to be treated like a queen. So, I'm going to become one."
"What do you mean, you're going to become a demon?" Sam asked.
"No, no. What I am, now, what I have been this whole time, is something powerful. A single being God created without anyone knowing. I'm immortal, powerful, nothing like a witch, nothing like an angel, and nothing like the leviathan or anything Eve created. I'm me, I'm powerful, I deserve to be the royalty Crowley can make me be. Yes, I'm going to be the Queen of Hell. Crowley's queen, his love, his life, his other half."
"Ava, you can't do this. You're good, you're not, you're better than that," Sam replied.
"And I'm not going to be evil. I'm going to be me. I'm going to be the person I've always been, on the inside at least. I've hidden so much all these years, and I just can't take it anymore. I've been so afraid of the two of you, Sam, Dean. I've been so afraid of what you'd do to me while I held onto the mortal coil of my bound self. And Cas, please don't look at me like I've betrayed you. I'll tell you everything soon, I promise. You'll understand me fully. You'll understand everything."
"How come no one knows my father created you? How do you know? How old are you really Ava?" It was Castiel who spoke this time. I felt so bad for the way he looked like a lost puppy. He looked hurt, betrayed. He and I had become pretty close over the years, too. I adored him, so innocent at first, but learned so much over time due to the Winchesters, especially Dean.
"Like I said, I promise to tell you later Cas. The time just isn't right at the moment. Give me a few days, okay? I'm just settling back into my own skin. The magic is flowing again, and I feel great, but I feel so exhausted at the same time. Tomorrow, I promise, I'll tell you everything. But for now, I would like to go rest. We'll all have drinks tomorrow at a club of my choosing. I'll surprise you all with something, and then we'll go to a private room and I'll explain everything."
"Ava, you don't have to explain yourself to anyone," Crowley interrupted.
"It's okay, baby. I want to." When I said this Dean looked so pissed. I didn't quite give a fuck, though. "I'll see you all tomorrow, I'm going home to rest."
I grabbed Crowley's hand and we set off for home. I didn't realize how tired I was. As much as I wanted to take my punishment, and dish my own out in return, I couldn't. Hell, I could barely hold my eyes open now. Crowley smiled at me and commented on how cute I looked. Then, he snapped his fingers and put me into a black lacy neglige. He came over and picked me up bridal style and put me into bed. He kissed my forehead and laid down next to me in his boxers. He held me and I drifted off to sleep.