Re: AFTERMATH
The battle was done. Crowley could barely believe it, still wasn't sure just how he was still alive, but apparently he was. And the displaced were still there.
Well, some of them. He was sure some of them were among the bodies strewn on the ground, and he had seen a few figures being pulled into the vortex that was the Cage. Who was there, he didn't even know. He'd heard some names being screamed, heard Kol's voice among the din, and he wanted to go through the mess to see who had fallen. Who was lost. Fuck, he even wanted to comfort Kol for whoever had gone from him. And he seriously wanted to find Ruby, to.... he didn't even know. Calm her? Comfort her? What could he say now her husband was in the Cage?
But there were still demons, demons who were hesitating now their Lord and Master was gone. And Crowley knew these next few moments would be the key to everything that mattered, what would shape the days and months, even decades and centuries to come.
With a faint puff of smoke, he teleported from where he was to the top of a crypt, his hellhounds immediately at his side. His eyes showed the deep demonic red of his true self, the beasts had barely restrained snarls as they all looked down on the battlefield.
"You've lost." His voice was loud, confident, enough for all the demons to turn to him, expressions wary, scared, angry.
"Your King is dead." Harsh words, especially in Ruby's hearing, but it was true. "I am your King now." And despite everything, he did feel a thrill of exhilaration, as much as his expression remained calm. "So you now all face a choice. Bow down to me or die."
A few seconds of silence filled the air, and some demons did turn and began to flee. Never mind, those would be dealt with later. As for the others...
One by one, they let go of their weapons, blades and guns falling to the ground with clatters that echoed. And they each dropped a knee, bowing to him, offering him their fealty. Crowley, no longer the King of the Crossroads, now the King of Hell.