Chapter 30

Suddenly alarms began blaring. Sam jumped from his chair and checked the computer alarm system to see what Apocalyptic event had started.

"A large abyss deeper than geologists have the tools to measure just opened in the New Mexico desert," Sam informed them.

"Lucifer," Dean told them. "He's testing the limits. Seeing what he can do."

"And we're in trouble. New Mexico desert is about where the locus-women were imprisoned. Lucifer just opened the door to their prison and they're free."

"How bad could they be?" Dean asked, "They're just bugs."

"Just bugs?" Cas repeated, "We're talking 3 of the deadliest creatures alive. The face body of a man, teeth of a lion, face of a woman, hair made of locus. They were created to tear anyone not marked by God to shreads."

"You wouldn't happen to know anyone marked by god would you?" Sam asked even though he knew where this was heading.

"You two…the remaining prophets… the 5 people who bear stigmata. They also won't kill anyone marked by Lucifer since he freed them… so that means demons. They can only be killed by one of the marked using a weapon of god and will keep killing until they are killed."

"Well, good thing Sam and I are marked then so we can kill it."

"Um, Dean. Cas said we need a weapon of God to kill them. Unless you know where we can get one of those we're scr*w*d," Sam reminded him.

"Maybe we can help with that."

The boys would know that voice anywhere. The voice that crept into their nightmares and plagued their waking moments. The voice that once spoke about redemption before stabbing them in the back.

"Hello boys. Miss me?" Crowley asked. He looked the same as he did last time they'd met as he tried to stop them from getting the angels back in Heaven. Yet, in a way, he looked… older? Crowley looked old, and tired and worn. Plus, he wasn't alone.

Dean had assumed the man that stood next to Crowley was just one of his goons until white eyes flashed before them. The man stood about 6 feet tall with curly hair that looked black in the light. The demon had cheekbones so sharp you could cut your hands on them, and his smile had S.E.X. written all over it.

"Hello boys." What was it with high-level demons and possessing Brits?"It's been a very, very long time. I'm sure you have heard all about me from my daughter. I'm Prince Vassagio."

"Oh again with the Prince talk!" Crowley yelled. "I'm the King and once Lucifer is dead I will prove that to all of Hell!"

"You're not Charlie's father," Sam spat at Vassagio ignoring Crowley completely.

"Oh, really?" Vassagio grabbed Sam's face and held it with one hand. Ever protective Dean made a reach for his holy water forgetting that it wouldn't work on a white-eyed demon. Even if the water would have worked Vassagio pushed the hunting bag away from Dean before he got a chance. "I won't hurt little Sammy don't worry." He assured with a sickening smile. "I just want to chat. Sam here doesn't want to believe that I'm Charlie's father because that would make Azazel his. Understandable. I will tell you I was ever so happy to discover you'd wasted him. He always went on and on about how it was unfair that I was the Prince when he did all the work. Typical second to the throne."

The Winchesters had known Azazel was powerful… but second to the throne? And to think they'd wasted him easily.

"Let Moose go Vassagio," Crowley growled. "I like him, he's funny and they won't be as cooperative if we kill one of them. Actually, I don't know about Castiel is this a kill the Winchesters day or no?"

"Leave," Cas demanded though without his angelic power he sounded small.

"No can do Castiel. Nice to see you again by the way it's good to know that my guardian angel has found a new boy to shag. Honest we're just here to strike a deal," Vassagio told them with a charismatic smile.

"You want us to make a deal? With you. What are we nuts?" Dean scoffed. "No thank you."

"And what happened to the civil war Charlie was talking about?" Sam asked.

"It's been… postponed," Crowley told them through gritted teeth.

Dean started to laugh, "Oh I never thought I'd live to see this day! They're scared! The great demon, 'king of Hell' Crowley is terrified."

"Would you fight God for his rule over Heaven," Vassagio asked. They all turned to Cas who, in turn, shrugged. "Lucifer took a weak human from his mud hut and morphed me into what I am. He is our God."

"Fighting this fool for Hell, sure, piece of cake I did it once. But fighting Lucifer… I'd have to be nuts! Only a madman fights the devil."

"So you came to us. We are your madmen," Cas assumed.

Crowley gave Cas a 'you've always been mad to me' look before Vassagio spoke up. "You have an advantage that we need."

"Wait, Say that again," Dean interrupted. "I want to relish in a demon asking for our help for once."

"Dude," Sam revoked. "Perspective."

Vassagio continued like he'd never been interrupted. "You have the advantage of having nothing to lose. Lucifer will kill you no matter what. You fight with him-he kills you. You fight against him-he kills you. You do nothing-he kills you. Us on the other hand… well. I always was his favorite son."

"Look. This place is the only place Lucifer can't see us. He doesn't even realize he can't see us. Charlie's work I'd presume. She made it so even she can't reverse it," Crowley told them still obviously anxious at the thought of Lucifer knowing what they were up to. "Vassagio and I… came to an agreement. We help you however we can. You kill Lucifer. We go back and finish our war."

"How do we know you're not going to scr*w us over?" Sam asked. "You don't really have the best track record."

"Of course we'll scr*w you over," Vasssagio laughed. "First opportunity we get. Still… we happen to have exactly what you need-a weapon of the Lord-only thing that can kill a locus women."

"And like I said before. You've really got nothing to lose. While we, have everything to gain." Crowley reminded them.

Cas turned to the Winchester brothers speaking quietly even though the demons would hear any volume level. "I don't think we can trust them."

"Of course we can't trust them Cas," Dean remarked.

"But I'm not sure what other choice we have," Sam finished. "They have a weapon and we need one-quick. If getting this weapon and killing these locus-women means killing Lucifer… well that was the plan already."

"Fine, you've got a deal," Dean told them. "Give us this weapon of the Lord and we'll make sure your daddy is dead by the end."

Crowley smirked in happiness before pulling, of all people Cas in for a deal sealing kiss.

"Exactly as I imagined," he told them quietly. "Your weapon."

A wooden shepherd staph fell to the ground as the demons disappeared.