The path was dark, and twisted around on itself like a thousand Escher paintings all leading into each other. Behind, ahead, and all around was the fitful light of fires that gave no heat and a glow that did not so much illuminate as outline. It was darkness given shape.

Far behind, insofar as there was a behind, came the echoes of screaming and wails and the shrill laughter of those who would find anything funny as long as it wasn’t happening to them. The lone traveller chuckled to itself as it made its way closer to the surface, closer to its chance of vengeance, causing pain and misery and paying back the world that had dealt it such an unfair hand.

And, of course, the chance to get as far away from the little bastard who’d taken control of the realm as possible.

It could have been moments later, or days, or even weeks, before it finally reached the living world and boiled out into the fresh air, laughing madly to itself. Freedom! And so much power! These little insects didn’t know what was about to hit them!

Screams of the damned were only unsettling for a small amount of time, everyone in hell screeching their lungs out as an everyday occurrence, it became background noise. The being the two demons were looking at didn’t make such noises, was silent on the rack, didn’t move more than a small twitch. It was unnerving, but the two of them had a job. The crossroads demon couldn’t become king of hell, anyone was better, though especially this particular someone.

After all who better replaced Lucifer than his offspring?

================

The trip to the throne room was swift, Crowley loyalists being killed left and right with the stab or a blade or the flicker of icy grace. When they threw open the doors the two demons stepped aside, smug grins alighting their faces as the nephillim stepped through, grace oppressive and wings flared, fully visible for any demons in the room.

Vadigan settled his shoulders, walking forward until he was fully in the room, staring the current king in the eyes.

“I believe you’re in my throne.”

find my muse, injured and alone after being beaten up

Crowley lay on the damp forest floor, groaning and wincing from the pain. Every movement caused the fallen leaves below him to rustle.The last thing he remembered was being hit by a spell, and judging by how hard he had hit a nearby tree, the being responsible was rather powerful. His head hurt. He reached behind and came back with blood on his hand. Great. Just great. Nearby movement made him stiffen and reach for the blade he always kept hidden, just in case. He did have his own magic as well, but the knife served as a reasonable last backup weapon.

On a hunt, Emily had found herself in a forest, somewhere in Texas. She was tracking a coven of witches, ones that could or could not be connected to her parents, her real parents, not her aunt or uncle. She wasn’t sure. She had been tracking them after hearing that a hunter may have killed her parents all those years ago, not just an ordinary thief. She was trying to find signs of powerful magic, and had tracked them here, only to stumble upon... a bleeding man.

He was groaning in pain, and at first Emily thought it was a trap, but then--she was on the witches’ side, right? So even if she walked into a trap she could explain herself. So after a moment she approached. “Hey, are you okay?” she called out. “I see blood, I’m going to try...” Then she recognized him. “Crowley?” That was... odd, to say the least. She looked around, as if that way she would find someway to stench the bleeding from his head. “Um... you can have my shirt? If you like? For the bleeding?”

Andromeda was frozen to the spot with shock. The scene she’d come across was like something out of a bad dream; Crowley, wand in hand, standing over a crumpled, motionless figure.

“How long have you been standing there?” The Wolf growled at the other. His hair a mess and he was covered in dirt; hastily trying to pull on his clothes. He had just got his pants back on when he saw someone out of the corner of his eye. Wearing a well tailored suit in the middle of the woods was quite unusual.

*gives Crowley a long look*