Supernatural One-Shots

The Crossroad Demon

Prompt: write a scene in which a crossroads demon makes a deal with someone of your choosing. Unfortunately, due to the untrustworthiness of the demon, the person in question dies before their ten years are up, and the demon goes to collect the soul of the person's small child instead. ENTER team free will to save the day. Tell the story from the POV of the demon. Bonus points for Castiel appearance (not a requirement).

It was my first assignment.  I was chosen out of the entire league of demons to heed the foolish cries of a broken man or woman at the crossroads.   I didn’t understand why a human being would go as far as striking up a deal with an unknown spirit from a foreign realm, but I suppose the core of the human spirit is to risk anything for comfort, justice, and love.  And as much as I had heard from veteran demons that had single-handily sealed a deal with a kiss, they always came back and said the human only traded their souls because they had experienced some unfair event in their life.  Pathetic humans.  They will never settle with loneliness or pain—something us demons have grown to enjoy. 

Anyway, on the night of my assignment, I remember vividly waiting for permission to reveal myself on earth in the form of a human.  My entrance could not be made unless the praying victim dug a hole and filled it with some sacred object and their identification card.  So I spent the last fifteen minutes listing to this young female wailing and pleading for some form of answer. I couldn’t help but laugh to myself and shake my head.  If only she knew what she was really getting into the moment she buried my calling card into the ground.  How hilarious it was to hear her broken voice cursing God and praying out to me!

When the woman’s sobs became furious curses for a demon (cue for me) to show itself, I quickly emerged from the darkness of my world and entered into a strange, but flexible, costume.  I felt a layer of uncomfortable material hang on my borrowed body and something about my head tickled my temples and forehead.  I assumed it was “hair.”  Looking down, I noticed my feet covered in tailored animal skins and one of my “wrists” decorated with a band and circular object that informed me of what time it was.  I couldn’t help but crack a smile—demons never needed time.  For where I come from, time has no name.

After admiring the body I possessed, my eyes trailed upward and locked onto a young woman with long brown hair, hazel eyes, and rosy pink lips.  There were blurred streaks down her cheeks, which at first made me believe humans cried black tears.  But when she wiped them away with her hands—almost in shame that they gave away her shattering heart—I realized the lines were only vain cosmetics.

“Are you who I’m looking for?”  The woman sniffled.

I nodded my head and rested my laced fingers against the small of my back.  Taking a step forward, I gave her a small smile.  As I had been schooled, I replied confidently, “You’re making a deal, I see.  What can I do for you?”

Drying her hands on her raggedy grey t-shirt, the woman mumbled, “I was told I have cancer.  I’m twenty-two.  This was not supposed to happen.”

My eyebrow lifted.  Her complaint wasn’t as exciting as I had expected.  “Well, you wouldn’t be the first young victim.  Perhaps you should enjoy the next three years of your life.  Or,” I held up a finger, “I can give you ten years.”

The woman’s face crinkled in confusion.  “Isn’t there something you want in return?”

“Of course.  I want your soul after the ten years are up.  Don’t worry, ten years is not long for me.”  I sauntered over to her and circled her slowly.  She was average height with a meaty frame and pixie-like features.  She seemed to have a healthy soul despite the burden she had put on it in what seemed to be the last few months.