Chapter 281 — A King Without a Throne
Crowley woke before the sun.
He didn't wake because of the pain.
Pain had stopped being a useful reason to wake a long time ago.
He woke because someone was cooking.
For a few seconds, he remained still.
His eyes opened.
The ceiling above him was wooden.
The room smelled of smoke, onions, old stone, and something burning.
Crowley stared at the ceiling.
Then closed his eyes again.
"Henry."
From somewhere outside the room came a voice.
"I didn't do it."
Crowley opened his eyes.
A second voice followed.
"You absolutely did."
"That was Charon."
"It was not."
"It was spiritually Charon."
Crowley sat up.
Every muscle in his back complained.
He ignored it.
The room was small.
A wooden table.
Two chairs.
One broken cupboard.
A window without glass.
A fireplace built into the far wall.
They had found the building during the night, another abandoned house on the edge of the road.
It had survived the war because nobody had bothered burning it.
The others were scattered through the rooms.
Brook was asleep in the next room.
Crowley had checked.
Once.
Then again.
He had stopped checking after that.
Gabriel was outside.
Rick had taken the front room.
Shoyo was with Tala.
Sera was somewhere nearby.
Henry was apparently committing crimes against breakfast.
Crowley stood.
His coat hung over the back of a chair.
He looked at it.
The same coat.
The same damage.
The same old fabric.
He picked it up.
There was blood on the sleeve.
Crowley wiped it away with a damp cloth.
It didn't come completely clean.
He didn't care.
He put the coat on.
Then walked toward the kitchen.
Henry was standing over a pan.
Smoke filled the room.
Sera was sitting at the table with her notebook open.
She looked at Crowley.
"Morning."
Crowley looked at the pan.
"Is that edible?"
Henry turned.
"Good morning to you too."
Crowley pointed.
"What is it?"
"Eggs."
"That isn't an answer."
"It's eggs."
"They're black."
Henry looked down.
"Oh."
Sera closed her notebook.
"Move."
Henry stepped aside.
Sera took the pan from him.
Crowley leaned against the doorway.
"You're making breakfast?"
Sera looked at him.
"He insisted."
Henry raised a finger.
"I volunteered."
"You insisted."
"I volunteered aggressively."
Crowley looked at Henry.
"That's a dangerous phrase."
Henry smiled.
"I learned from you."
"No, you didn't."
"That's hurtful."
Crowley watched Sera scrape the pan.
"How bad?"
Sera glanced at the food.
"Very."
Henry looked offended.
"You haven't tasted it."
"I don't need to."
Crowley nodded.
"She's right."
Henry folded his arms.
"You two are impossible."
Sera put a plate on the table.
Crowley sat.
Henry looked at him.
"You're eating?"
Crowley picked up a fork.
"I've survived worse."
Henry smiled.
"That means yes."
Crowley took one bite.
He chewed.
Swallowed.
Looked at Henry.
"It's terrible."
Henry laughed.
"I knew you'd say that."
Sera sat across from Crowley.
"You're bleeding."
Crowley glanced down.
A cut had opened near his ribs.
"Not much."
"That's still bleeding."
"I've had worse."
Sera stared at him.
Crowley stared back.
Henry pointed between them.
"This is getting familiar."
Sera reached for her notebook.
"Shirt."
Crowley looked at her.
"What?"
"Take it off."
Henry's eyebrows rose.
Crowley gave him a look.
Henry immediately became fascinated with the wall.
Sera stood.
"Your ribs."
"I can wrap them."
"You can also make them worse."
Crowley sighed.
He removed his coat.
Then his shirt.
Sera examined the bruising.
"You took a direct hit."
"Yes."
"From the captain?"
"Yes."
"You should have moved."
Crowley looked at her.
"I was standing somewhere."
"That isn't a defense."
"It worked."
Sera shook her head.
"Sit still."
Crowley did.
She cleaned the wound.
He didn't flinch.
Henry watched from across the room.
"You know," he said, "for someone who complains about everyone being stupid, you do a lot of stupid things."
Crowley looked at him.
"Name one."
"You fought an entire group of demons alone."
"Yes."
"That's one."
Crowley nodded.
"That's one."
"You got punched by a Heaven captain."
"Technically, he punched me."
"That counts."
"Barely."
"You stood in the middle of the road while everyone was trying to kill you."
Crowley thought.
"That was efficient."
Henry looked at Sera.
"See?"
Sera continued wrapping the ribs.
"He's impossible."
Crowley nodded.
"Correct."
Henry leaned back.
Then he looked at Crowley.
"Why do they call you King?"
Crowley's eyes lifted.
Sera stopped moving.
Henry immediately realized he'd stepped somewhere dangerous.
"What?"
Crowley looked at him.
"You heard them."
"Yeah."
"They call me that."
"Why?"
Crowley tied the bandage.
Sera waited.
Crowley took his shirt back.
"Because they have a habit of saying things."
Henry stared.
"That is the least useful answer I've ever heard."
Crowley put his shirt on.
"You'll survive."
"Probably."
Charon appeared beside Henry.
"I've heard worse."
Henry frowned.
"Where?"
"Inside your head."
"Right."
Crowley picked up his coat.
Henry watched him.
"You really aren't going to explain?"
"No."
"Not even a little?"
"No."
Henry nodded.
"Okay."
Crowley looked at him.
Henry's expression was unexpectedly serious.
"I can live with that."
Crowley nodded once.
That was the end of it.
For now.
The house had belonged to someone who knew how to cook.
Crowley discovered that after searching the cupboards.
There was dried flour.
Salt.
Beans.
Old onions.
A little oil.
A cracked iron pot.
A knife that had seen better days.
Most importantly, there was coffee.
Bad coffee.
But coffee.
Crowley held the packet up.
Sera looked over.
"That's expired."
Crowley looked at the date.
"Yes."
"By how much?"
"Enough."
Henry walked over.
"You're still going to drink it."
Crowley opened the packet.
"Obviously."
Henry shook his head.
"You're weird."
"Correct."
He poured the beans into the grinder.
The room filled with the rough sound of grinding.
Brook appeared in the doorway.
His hair was a mess.
His coat was still on.
He looked exhausted.
Crowley glanced at him.
"You're awake."
Brook nodded.
"What are you doing?"
"Coffee."
Brook looked at the beans.
"Is it good?"
Crowley stared at him.
"No."
"Then why make it?"
"Because bad coffee is still coffee."
Brook nodded slowly.
"That makes sense."
Henry looked at Sera.
"Don't encourage him."
Brook sat.
Sera pushed a piece of bread toward him.
"Eat."
Brook looked at it.
Then at her.
"I ate yesterday."
"You're eating today."
Brook sighed.
He took the bread.
Crowley watched him.
Brook looked at the bandage around Crowley's ribs.
"You're hurt."
"Yes."
"Bad?"
"No."
"Can you fight?"
Crowley poured the coffee.
"Yes."
Brook nodded.
"Good."
Crowley set the cup down.
"Don't."
Brook looked at him.
"Don't what?"
"Make that face."
"What face?"
"The one where you decide you're responsible for whether everyone else can still stand."
Brook looked away.
"I don't."
Crowley took a drink.
His face remained completely still.
Henry watched.
"How bad?"
Crowley swallowed.
"Terrible."
Henry laughed.
Brook smiled.
Sera looked at Crowley.
"You actually like it."
Crowley stared at the coffee.
"No."
"You always drink it."
"Habit."
"That's not the same thing."
Crowley took another sip.
"No."
Brook looked at him.
"Did you always have coffee?"
Crowley was quiet.
Then he said,
"No."
"When did you start?"
"After."
"After what?"
Crowley looked toward the window.
"After a kitchen."
Brook waited.
Crowley didn't continue.
Sera looked at him.
Henry did too.
Crowley took another drink.
Brook understood.
He didn't ask.
The day passed slowly.
That was unusual.
After the war, everyone seemed to expect another attack.
None came.
They repaired weapons.
Wrapped wounds.
Collected food.
Checked the surrounding fields.
The town they had left behind remained several miles away.
The road ahead was empty.
For once, there was no immediate crisis.
Crowley spent most of the afternoon outside.
He sat beneath a tree.
His coat beside him.
His sword across his knees.
Gabriel approached.
Crowley looked up.
"You're walking strangely."
Gabriel smiled.
"I've been hit."
"You fought Joshua."
"Yes."
"You shouldn't be walking."
Gabriel looked at him.
"Neither should you."
Crowley nodded.
"Fair."
Gabriel sat.
For several minutes, they watched the road.
Then Gabriel said,
"They're going to keep coming."
"Yes."
"Both sides."
"Yes."
"They'll keep using people."
Crowley looked toward the horizon.
"They always do."
Gabriel was quiet.
"You've seen this before."
Crowley smiled faintly.
"More times than I care to remember."
"Does it ever stop?"
"No."
Gabriel looked at him.
Crowley took a slow breath.
"You just get better at recognizing the shape."
Gabriel looked toward the road.
"And what shape is this?"
Crowley didn't answer immediately.
Then:
"Ownership."
Gabriel frowned.
"They think Brook belongs to them."
"Yes."
"He doesn't."
"No."
"Then what do we do?"
Crowley looked at him.
"Keep him moving."
Gabriel nodded.
Crowley looked at the road.
"That's what we've always done."
Gabriel studied him.
"You've been doing it longer than the rest of us."
Crowley didn't respond.
Gabriel looked toward the coat lying beside him.
"Does it ever get heavy?"
Crowley looked down.
"The coat?"
Gabriel nodded.
Crowley picked it up.
He looked at the worn fabric.
"No."
Gabriel smiled.
"That's a lie."
Crowley looked at him.
Gabriel shrugged.
"I learned from Brook."
Crowley almost smiled.
"Terrible habit."
Gabriel stood.
"I'll leave you to it."
Crowley nodded.
Gabriel walked away.
Crowley watched him go.
Then looked down at the coat again.
He remembered another man wearing it.
Not him.
A man who had handed it over without ceremony.
A promise made without asking for anything in return.
Crowley closed his eyes.
The memory stayed where it belonged.
He didn't speak.
Lilith came after dark.
Crowley knew before anyone else.
He had been sitting beside the fire.
Brook was asleep inside.
Henry and Sera were arguing quietly over something.
Rick was on watch.
Gabriel had taken the far side of the house.
Tala and Shoyo were sleeping.
The wind shifted.
Crowley opened his eyes.
Lilith stood at the edge of the trees.
She wasn't alone.
Two figures stood behind her.
Crowley stood.
Sera stopped talking.
Henry looked up.
Brook woke inside.
Crowley stepped away from the fire.
Lilith smiled.
"You look terrible."
Crowley looked at her.
"So do you."
She laughed.
"Still charming."
"Still alive."
"Unfortunately."
Crowley looked at the figures behind her.
"Bring them closer."
Lilith's smile faded.
"You're not even curious?"
"No."
"You used to be."
"I'm tired."
Lilith looked toward the house.
"Is he inside?"
Crowley didn't answer.
She smiled.
"That means yes."
Crowley's hand rested near his weapon.
Lilith noticed.
"You think I'm here to take him?"
"You came with soldiers."
"Of course."
Crowley looked at her.
Lilith shrugged.
"I like company."
"Then enjoy them."
He drew his weapon.
Lilith sighed.
"Always like this."
Crowley stepped forward.
"Usually."
One of the figures behind her moved.
Crowley struck before it could attack.
The figure went down.
Lilith moved.
Crowley blocked her blade.
Metal rang.
She smiled.
"There you are."
Crowley pushed her back.
"You wanted me."
"I wanted to see if you were still you."
Crowley attacked.
Lilith blocked.
Their weapons collided again.
She twisted.
He stepped aside.
She kicked.
He caught her ankle.
She spun free.
Crowley punched her.
Lilith staggered.
She wiped blood from her mouth.
"Still rude."
"Still talking."
She attacked again.
This time, Crowley didn't move backward.
He moved forward.
Their blades crossed.
His shoulder struck her chest.
She hit the ground.
Crowley stood over her.
"Leave."
Lilith looked up.
"You know I can't."
"You can."
"No."
She looked toward the house.
"Not while he's there."
Crowley's eyes hardened.
"He's not yours."
Lilith smiled.
"I didn't say he was."
"Then leave."
She stood.
"I'm not here to take him."
Crowley didn't lower his weapon.
"Why are you here?"
Lilith looked at him.
"Because Hell knows you're here."
Crowley said nothing.
"And Heaven knows."
Still nothing.
"And they both think if they remove him from the board, the war becomes easier."
Crowley stared.
Lilith continued.
"You know that's not true."
"Yes."
"Then why stay?"
Crowley looked toward the house.
Lilith followed his gaze.
"You could walk away."
Crowley looked back at her.
"No."
"Why?"
Crowley didn't answer.
Lilith smiled faintly.
"You really won't say it."
Crowley's expression remained flat.
"Say what?"
She stared at him.
Then shook her head.
"Nothing."
Crowley lowered his weapon slightly.
"You done?"
Lilith looked at him.
"For tonight."
She stepped backward.
Crowley watched her.
Then she said,
"You're changing."
Crowley frowned.
"No."
"You used to enjoy this."
Crowley looked at the body on the ground.
"I never enjoyed it."
Lilith laughed softly.
"You did."
Crowley wiped blood from his knuckles.
"Maybe."
Lilith stared at him.
Then she turned.
The remaining soldiers followed.
She stopped at the edge of the trees.
Without looking back, she said,
"Hell is going to ask for you."
Crowley didn't move.
"Let them."
Lilith smiled.
"That answer will cost you."
Crowley looked toward the dark road.
"Everything does."
She disappeared into the trees.
Crowley waited.
He didn't follow.
He didn't look toward Hell.
He turned back toward the house.
Brook was standing in the doorway.
Crowley stopped.
Brook looked at him.
"Who was that?"
Crowley sheathed his weapon.
"Lilith."
Brook nodded.
"Why was she here?"
Crowley walked past him.
"She wanted to talk."
"She attacked you."
"Her version of talking."
Brook followed.
"Why does she know you?"
Crowley stopped.
Brook nearly walked into him.
Crowley looked back.
"Because I've been around."
Brook stared.
"That isn't an answer."
"No."
"Will she come back?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
Crowley looked at the dark trees.
"Because people rarely leave a story after one conversation."
Brook frowned.
"What story?"
Crowley walked inside.
"Sleep."
Brook followed.
The others were awake now.
Henry was sitting beside the fire.
Sera had her notebook open.
Gabriel stood near the wall.
Rick looked toward the trees.
Shoyo had her staff in hand.
Tala watched the ground.
Brook entered.
Everyone looked at him.
Henry spoke first.
"Who was she?"
"Lilith," Brook said.
Henry nodded.
"Right."
He looked at Crowley.
"You know her well?"
Crowley sat.
"Well enough."
"Was she with Hell?"
"Yes."
"Is she coming back?"
"Yes."
Henry sighed.
"Great."
Sera looked at Crowley.
"What did she want?"
"To see me."
"And?"
"She saw me."
Sera narrowed her eyes.
"You're impossible."
Crowley nodded.
"Yes."
Gabriel looked at Crowley.
"She mentioned Hell."
Crowley looked at him.
"Yes."
"What did she say?"
"That they'll ask for me."
Henry glanced between them.
"For what?"
Crowley didn't answer.
Brook looked at him.
"Are you going?"
Crowley looked directly at him.
"No."
The answer came immediately.
Brook nodded.
He didn't ask anything else.
Crowley noticed.
That was good.
He looked at the fire.
Henry poked it with a stick.
"Can I ask one thing?"
Crowley sighed.
"One."
"Why does everyone call you King?"
Silence.
Sera looked down.
Gabriel didn't move.
Rick stared at the fire.
Brook watched Crowley.
Crowley leaned back.
"Because I am."
Henry waited.
"That doesn't explain anything."
"It explains enough."
Henry frowned.
"Do you have a throne?"
"No."
"A crown?"
"No."
"A castle?"
"No."
"Subjects?"
Crowley looked toward the road.
"Unfortunately."
Henry smiled.
"So you're a king without a throne."
Crowley nodded.
"Correct."
"That's kind of sad."
Crowley looked at him.
"Don't."
Henry raised his hands.
"Okay."
Crowley looked at the fire.
"Kings don't need chairs."
Henry thought about that.
"That's actually pretty good."
Sera closed her notebook.
"Don't encourage him."
Crowley took his coffee.
It had gone cold.
He drank it anyway.
His face twisted.
"Terrible."
Brook looked at him.
"You made it."
"I know."
"Then why complain?"
Crowley looked at him.
"Because it deserves criticism."
Brook smiled.
For a moment, the room was quiet.
Then Henry said,
"Do you think you'll ever go back?"
Crowley didn't answer.
Henry realized.
He started to retract the question.
"Never mind."
Crowley looked at him.
"Hell is where I came from."
Henry waited.
Crowley continued.
"It's not where I'm going."
That was all.
Nobody asked him to explain.
Nobody needed him to.
Outside, the wind moved through the trees.
The fire crackled.
The house remained standing.
Brook sat down.
Sera opened her notebook again.
Henry leaned back.
Gabriel took watch.
Rick checked the door.
Shoyo lowered her staff.
Tala rested her hand on the ground.
Crowley stayed beside the fire.
His coat remained on his shoulders.
His sword remained within reach.
His coffee remained terrible.
And the promise remained where it had always been.
Unsaid.
End of Chapter 281