Evil is What Evil Does(Lilith, Igrat, Lydia, A.J.)

[Deleted]

A.J. remained standing beside Lydia. He was too nervous and jittery to sit. Standing, he could move around fairly unnoticed, but sitting his nervousness would show in the way he fidgeted inside this body.

Of all the demons in all the world, it just had to be Lilith, he thought.

If it were up to him he would've walked away the second he recognized her for what she was. But this was Lydia's meeting - her decision. Whether or not A.J. would stand by that decision, that was to be determined. Though now that Lilith had him in her sights he'd lost a great deal of the freedom he'd managed to gain for himself.

Lilith asked Lydia if she knew the Winchesters and A.J. wondered what could be so important about them. He knew the Winchesters were an infamous family of hunters, but other than that he couldn't see how they'd be enough of a threat for Lilith to want their heads on pikes. Then again, did Lilith really need a reason to want somebody's head?

He listened as Lilith told Lydia her story. He had a hard time keeping up. Apparently Sam was killed by Azazel, a demon more powerful than Pilgrim was. Dean made a deal, Dean went to Hell, some angel took Dean out of Hell, and now Lilith wanted them both dead and a demon named Bela brought back. It all sounded ridiculously comical to him, but he didn't dare laugh. A small smirk did cross his lips as Lilith continued. And then her gaze fell on him, though she was still speaking to Lydia, saying that there was no telling who would slip out of the Gate and whether or not they'd be loyal.

A.J.'s smirk broadened slightly, though he didn't reply. Pilgrim's loyalties were to himself and he wasn't the kind to jump in on a cause, especially when he wasn't the one in charge.

Lilith summed up their "mission", telling Lydia she could give her power if she completed it, letting her eyes go white for emphasis.

Right then, Pilgrim couldn't contain himself. The deep, slightly raspy demon voice came out of the human throat in a cold, steady laugh.

"So, let me get this straight," he said, the smirk still present, though the laughter had stopped. "These guys, Sam and Dean, both died and came back. And now Dean's working with the angels and him and Sam are making life difficult for you. So you want us to summon this Bela chick so that eventually you can kill these two? Is that the gist?"

His tone was even and not mocking or disrespectful, but it wasn't exactly enthusiastic either. If anything it was a bit arrogant. Though he wasn't stupid. He hadn't forgotten how powerful Lilith was and he knew all too well that she could send him back to Hell. He could restrain himself, keep himself in check, but he couldn't change his personality completely to suit her. When dealing with Pilgrim, this was as respectful as one could expect him to be.

"This is all a pretty big mess you're in, isn't it?" he said, folding his arms across his chest.

He looked to Lydia. He didn't like this, and he wasn't sure how Lydia was feeling about it. He sensed that she was at ease and sure of herself, as she usually seemed to be. He wanted to know what she was thinking.

Either we agree, or we get eaten by a Hellhound, he thought bitterly. I should've stayed home.

[igrat]

The young demoness felt the ground rumble beneath her feet as Cuddles let out a growl from Pilgrim's little outburst. She stepped back and paced around behind Lilith to the Hellhound-possessed Rotty. She reached into a metal box on the floor and pulled out a bone full of yellow marrow and red meat. She held it out to Cuddles. The dog stopped growling and sniffed the bone. It then licked Igrat's hand and took the bone, ever so gently, from her. She stood up and walked back to her customary position just as the large dog snapped through the hard bone. Her message was subtle, but clear. Another outburst that belittles her Queen's power may have an irate rotty chewing on some bones.

Her smile was pleasant, however, as she spoke to Pilgrim. "Have you never lost a favorite toy? Old as you are, you cannot tell me you've never been stolen from." Her arms crossed over her chest and she scoffed. "Bela isn't the way to death. It is the way to torture." She scoffed once more. "A female that brings out the worst in Dean back from Hell? Its so delicious! The possibilities for games are endless!" She was growing excited. Another crack of the marrow bone brought her out of the growing euphoria.

She looked over to her Queen. A smile on her face, her arms fell to her sides and her head lowered in acquiescence. She had spoken out of turn, but this male needs to learn. "This is not a mess, this is the wrappings of chaos in it's most beautiful form. It is beautiful." Her voice was barely a whisper, but the excitement remained.

[Deleted]

(btw Lilith was never ranked under Azazel. She is the highest ranking demon under Lucifer. No other demon is more powerful than her.)


Lydia sat motionless in her chair as Lilith told her story. At first, she was rather annoyed that she had been called here to listen to some fairytale told by a demon child, but it seemed there were actually some points of interest there... though she doubted that what she picked up happened to be what her hostess was hoping for.

"Angels..." she said, an eyebrow raised as she thought of the handsome stranger who had cornered her in a diner back in New Jersey nearly a month ago. A sly smile played on her lips as she thought of him, wondering if luck and coincidence were on her side today. "Would this angel happen to be tall...ish, dark hair, blue eyes... wears a tan trench coat?" she asked, licking her lips.

A.J. decided to speak up, pretty much asking for confirmation of their predicament, and then the demoness Igrat went to feed the dog a disgusting looking bone. Lydia watched the dog for a moment, an eyebrow raising at the way it tore into the bone as though it were nothing, and then she looked back up to Lilith. "Here's the problem," she said, thinking that she couldn't imagine this would be worth her time anyway. What powers could this little thing give her that A.J. couldn't? "I don't summon souls from hell. I resurrect soulless bodies. They are nothing more than mindless shells that do what I tell them to do, but as far as doing what you're asking... I just can't." She glanced over at A.J. and then back to Lilith. "Not yet, at least."

[lilith]

Lilith smiled as Lydia described the Angel that had been a thorn in her side for so long. Lilith's mind turned and turned as she thought of a way to take this knowledge to her advantage. "Yes that seems to be the look the winged rat is going for these days. His name is Castiel. He has been working closely with this Sam and Dean to undermine me." Lilith thought that if Lydia knew this angel then possibly his affiliation with Sam and Dean could get her to play ball with Lilith and her minions.

"I don't summon souls from hell. I resurrect soulless bodies. They are nothing more than mindless shells that do what I tell them to do, but as far as doing what you're asking... I just can't." She glanced over at A.J. and then back to Lilith. "Not yet, at least."

Lilith's plans had just deflated in one mere sentence. Her rage went up her spine and she growled. Brilliant dark power flowing into her eyes as she gripped the arms of her throne like chair. Singeing the place that she grabbed. She quickly relaxed at a thought. A power play. Two for one the Demon Queen thought to herself. "Forgive my sudden outburst. Well I am willing to cope with this setback." Lilith's cold white eyes met with Pilgrim's. Though it was obvious she was still addressing Lydia. "I hope someone will find the time to teach you the ways to summon a demon. Hopefully soon before I lose my patience. You can do that can't you..what is it....A.J. now?"

A cold smile appeared on the little ones face. If Pilgrim refused to teach Lydia then Lilith would teach her personally, and if she did that then Pilgrim would lose his claim on Lydia's soul. Check and Mate little Black Eye.

[Deleted]

Pilgrim winced as the Hellhound let out a growl. He took a reflexive step back and his posture straightened, his eyes widening slightly. He glared at the dog with something stronger than dislike. Hate and fear were mingling behind his gaze.

Stupid dog,” he thought as Igrat pacified the dog with a bone.

The dog bit through the bone like it was made of rubber. The ugly snap proved otherwise as the dog gnawed and chomped.

“Have you ever lost a favorite toy?” Igrat asked. It took Pilgrim a second to tear his gaze away from the dog and realize she was talking to him. “Old as you are, you cannot tell me you’ve never been stolen from.”

He shrugged. That much was true. He’d been stolen from plenty. Then again, he’d done a lot of stealing too. Igrat explained that Bela was a way to torture Dean, play with him.

Nice to know the world’s still your toybox, he thought.

Pilgrim had met Igrat in Hell. She liked games and torture, and was a few cans short of a six-pack, it seemed.

He glanced over at Lydia, but she seemed indifferent to what was going on. He could sense she was slightly annoyed, but other than that there was no major reaction. She explained to Lilith that she didn’t summon souls, she resurrected corpses.

“As far as doing what you’re asking… I just can’t,” she said. “Not yet, at least.”

Pilgrim gave her a warning look – no need to let Lilith know any more than she needed to at this point, or ever if he could help it.

His gaze shifted to Lilith as she looked like she was about to throw a demonic temper tantrum. She growled, scorching the arms of the chair she sat in. And then, as quickly as the mood came, it left.

“Forgive my sudden outburst,” she said. “Well I am willing to cope with this setback.”

Pilgrim chuckled slightly. Maybe it was the fact that the most powerful demon aside from Lucifer himself was camping out in the body of a little girl that amused him. He stopped as Lilith turned her gaze to him and spoke.

“I hope someone will find the time to teach you the ways to summon a demon,” she said to Lydia, even though she was still looking at Pilgrim. “Hopefully soon before I lose my patience.You can do that can’t you..what is it….A.J. now?”

Pilgrim stared at Lilith, a small smile on her face. She had him cornered and she knew it. He wasn’t being asked a question or offered an alliance.

He was being given an order.

Pilgrim clenched his teeth. He hated taking orders and answering to others. Both Lilith and Igrat knew that, so they’d know he wasn’t at all happy about this situation. But, he also didn’t have much of a choice in the matter. Not at the moment, anyway.

“You know I can,” he said, through gritted teeth. “It won’t happen overnight, though. It’s gonna take some time.”

Although Pilgrim would’ve loved nothing more than to lie and to stall, he was telling the truth. He, himself, had a bit more power than the average black-eyed demon. Not enough to put him above them, but enough to give him an edge. He had a few abilities most demons of his rank didn’t. The trouble was, he didn’t really use his power much and he was a little rusty. He could enhance Lydia’s power with a spell, maybe a potion if he wasn’t around when she needed him to be. But summoning a demon was different than bringing a dead guy back to life. It took some serious power, and he’d have to not only train Lydia properly before they gave it a try, but also build his own power by practicing his abilities.

He looked at Lydia, his expression saying something to the effect of ‘Let’s get the hell out of here.’

[igrat]

Igrat narrowed her eyes at Lydia when her Queen grew angry, her own anger bubbling up. She did not enjoy somebody telling her Queen that something couldn't be done. If that was the case, and if preparations would take too long, perhaps it would be better to just kill off those that cannot assist in the endeavors. The idea was written plainly on her face. Then, with Lilith's anger dissipating, her own anger left. She heard a soft growl to the side and grinned at Cuddles, who gave her a doggy grin in return. Her mistress had picked such a sweet pet.

Igrat rolled her eyes at Pilgrim's response on whether or not he could teach Lydia to summon a demon. "It won't happen overnight? There are mortal witches out there with less than a tenth of this one's power calling up our people left and right!" She smirked. "Granted many of the mortals that do so are taken and used. Many are killed. Many are hunted by the Winchesters and other hunters. And most of those hunters have been in the game a long time. They know how to hunt demons and witches alike. How much longer can she be kept safe, old friend? And how long will neutrals last when the war escalates?"

She paused, the only sound in the room was cuddles licking the concrete floor where the bone had laid. She looked to her Queen, smiled truly and fondly, and spoke, "I cannot offer power. I cannot offer the utmost protection. But my Queen can. She rewards those who follow her so well. And I? I can show you both the times of your lives. I am an instrument of seduction and torture. Amazing how relaxed one can be after partaking in adventures with me."

[Deleted]

Lydia didn't budge an inch at Lilith's miniature temper tantrum. She simply sat in her chair, her face cold and expressionless like stone as the little girl continued on about what she found acceptable and what she didn't. Lydia didn't honestly give a shit. In fact the only thing keeping her from saying some choice words about her time being wasted were the anxious glances that Pilgrim was casting in her direction. She couldn't tell exactly what was wrong but she was at least picking up on the fact that stepping on their toes too much probably wasn't a good idea. And then Igrat piped in.

Igrat rolled her eyes at Pilgrim's response on whether or not he could teach Lydia to summon a demon. "It won't happen overnight? There are mortal witches out there with less than a tenth of this one's power calling up our people left and right!" She smirked.

To this, Lydia took offense, and she stood up immediately, her lip curled up into a sneer. "If there were witches out there who were so much more powerful than me then you wouldn't have come to me in the first place," she growled, her eyes locking onto Igrat's challengingly. She knew damn well just how powerful she was and the fact that she had almost no inhibitions and such a strong lust for power obviously made her a key candidate for whatever they were asking her to do. Of course she wasn't sure what this one woman would be able to do to these Winchesters she spoke of but she didn't really care. Learning to summon a demon from hell? She was all in.

Lydia calmed down once Igrat seemed to relax herself, and settled into her chair once again. She caught A.J.'s look.. he was quite ready to be finished with this little meeting and she nodded subtly to him, looking to the others and stifling a yawn as Igrat explained the perks of following Lilith and what her particular talents were. She felt her stomach tighten and her eyes narrow, imagining that she was talking more to Pilgrim than to her. Jealousy wasn't something that she was used to experiencing but this line of conversation made her feel like there was anger boiling up inside of her. "The only demon I follow is this one," she said, standing again and taking a possessive hold of A.J.'s arm. She was ready to take her demon and leave. "So if that's all, we'll be going."

[lilith]

The cold anger within Lydia had been sensed by Lilith. She had dealt with humans since before the first great nations were built. She might have been in the body of a little girl, but that was to off put people like Lydia from playing nice. She enjoyed seeing these little mortals think so high and mighty of themselves then swatting them away like flies. She reached a hand and stroked Cuddles as Igrat went on talking about the merits of other witches, and the perks of working for one such as Lilith. She smiled at Pilgrim at his increasing restlessness.

Lilith also saw that Lydia had had enough. She was obviously angry at Igrat for her little speech. Lilith smiled knowingly at the all too familiar emotion Jealousy. When Lydia stood up suddenly so did Cuddles. He was on all fours ready to leap at anything that came at her Mistress. He put on a good show but he was a killing machine first and foremost. Lilith placed a hand on Cuddles and slipped off her chair walking towards Pilgrim and Lydia. She stopped about half way across the table and giggled a bit. "Yes yes it is time for this little meeting to be over. I do so hope to hear from you soon Lydia. I hope to get our plans started as soon as possible." Lilith's eyes turned white as she turned to smile at Pilgrim "When you have the spell ready and have summoned Bella. You know how to contact me. If you do not return to us with Bella after two weeks we will assume you skipped out on our deal. Take care Pilgrim. We'll be watching."

Lilith turned on them as she walked to Igrat waved a hand over and Igrat leaned in so Lilith could tell her to make sure that her contact information would be awaiting the infernal couple when they went back upstairs.

[igrat]

((Just to clarify "a tenth of her power" means LESS power than Lydia, not MORE. I think you misunderstood when you read it. It was an insult against Pilgrim's teaching skills, not Lydia's power.))

Igrat yawned at Lydia's outrage and stifled at giggle at her jealousy. It was a drug to her. It was a weakness in humans that she loved to exploit. Jealousy meant one had certain exploitable feelings for another. She sent her Queen a smile, checkmate. The statements were a test, now they know a little more about the ... student/teacher relationship. Inciting jealousy, envy, and lust were her favorite pastimes. This human may have an air of apathy around her, but she was human. She still suffered the human traits that made them predictable. Readable.

Igrat reached onto the table and pulled the hardened heart from the tool that ripped it from the body it was previously in. She tossed it to Pilgrim and held the wicked tool in her hand. It would be a shame to have to use this on somebody she knew many, many years ago... but if they didn't do what her Queen commanded, well, she liked toys of all types. She could make use of them one way or another.

She leaned in and listened to her Queen. She gave Lilith a look that clearly said, "that and more, if you so choose it." She spoke not a word and handed Lilith the sacred tool. An air of ceremony in the returning of the tool. Familiarity in the motions. It was one of her favorite physical tools to use on incompetent demons. She knew it well. She sent a smile toward Pilgrim and an insolent stare to Lydia. She feared no human, witch or hunter.

As they were leaving attentive guards watched them, one handed over the contact information in the form of a simple business card. A simple phone number to a secured line. A slight insult, considering a fairly easy spell could do the same thing. It was a pointed reminder that, yes she was a powerful human... but she was still human. And she was not important or powerful enough to deal with a direct link to Queen Lilith.

[Deleted]

Pilgrim glared at Igrat as she spoke, saying there were witches with less power than Lydia summoning demons all the time. Lydia stood up defiantly, offended, angered, and annoyed all at once. Pilgrim moved closer to her without realizing it. Lydia had a quick temper, which was actually something he liked about her. But, in this situation, it was clear to him that she didn’t realize just how dangerous things could be if the two of them weren’t careful.

Igrat told them she couldn’t offer them power and protection, but Lilith could. She rewarded her followers, blah, blah, blah. If Pilgrim hadn’t been too busy trying to keep his gaze on Lydia, the two demons, and the damn dog at once he would’ve rolled his eyes. He’d heard this spiel a hundred times from hundreds of Lilith’s ‘followers’ in his time. Sure, she could do all those things – she could do damn near anything. But, there was a price. To Pilgrim, being someone’s follower, no matter who it was, was to be a slave. He was and always would be a demon who cared more about his freedom than his safety. It had been his downfall several times, and probably would be again. But it simply wasn’t something he could change. It was who he was.

He was relieved when Lydia calmed down and, again, looked bored. He didn’t like that she wasn’t all that scared – fear was probably the best security system human beings had. If someone wasn’t afraid when they should’ve been, things tended to get ugly.

The relief didn’t last long as he sensed Lydia’s anger swell again… and was that a bit of jealousy? He couldn’t help looking at her curiously for a moment, his gaze shifting quickly back to Igrat. He realized quickly it was a bad idea for him and Lydia to have arrived together. He wouldn’t have wanted her to come by herself, but Lilith and Igrat would no doubt have sensed a connection between himself and Lydia that was more than business. It was something they could use against them later if need be.

“The only demon I follow is this one,” Lydia said, gripping his arm.

When she touched him he could sense her emotions better. Jealousy. Anger. Aggravation. Even a little bloodlust. But no real fear.

I need to get her out of here, he thought.

Lydia only had so much patience, and if she lost what little she had left here and now, with these two demons, she’d be no match for them. Not even close. And he wouldn’t be able to protect her.

Pilgrim caught the heart Igrat threw at him, out of pure reflex. He looked down at it in something like disgust, but didn’t drop it. If they could release the demon trapped within it, there was a possibility he could be useful. Again, he was relieved when Lydia announced they’d be going and Lilith agreed. He’d been ready to leave the second he’d realized who they were dealing with.

As Lydia held that cringe-worthy tool and Pilgrim held the heart, he wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her close as he led her toward the stairs. He glared at the guard who handed them a business card and walked past him without taking it. For people who seemed to need him and Lydia so badly, they damn sure weren’t making a good impression.

To say Pilgrim was pissed off would have been a massive understatement. He flung the door open and got back to the truck as quickly as possible.

((A.J. and Lydia out )

[lilith]

The little one watched as Lydia and Pilgrim left and heard their truck peel out of Lilith's driveway. The little girl sat back down on her make shift throne and put her hand on her cheek and sighed. She looked over to Igrat her faithful second."That didn't go as I had planned. I would have thought Pilgrim had more time with the little mortal. At the very least tell her of the hierarchy of Hell." Lilith mulled over the meeting in her head. She couldn't help a small and faint smile creeping into her cold features.

She stood up once more and looked around. Cuddles her faithful Hellhound by her side as always. Ever since her run in with Sam the first time she was on this plane she was keen to make sure something that she knew could hurt the boy was with her at all times. "Lydia does seem a little stand offish if you ask me, but I do some what admire that...to a degree. I do know for a fact that the ability to summon a demon will appeal to her darker nature, and with Pilgrim's teachings they will summon Bella back from the Pit."

Lilith walked over with Cuddles to the door on the far right of the basement. She opened it with little trouble without lifting a finger. It was a small room filled with dark artifacts similar to the one that Igrat had given Lydia. She took the most powerful and important of them and stuffed them into her Disney Princess backpack that was in the room as well. Zipping up the backpack she put it on her shoulders and with a little giggle she turned back to Igrat. "It appears that this location may be compromised. Let us hope that they follow through."

Lilith walked towards the stairs Cuddles behind her. She walked past Igrat and up the creaky stairs to the first floor before she reached the door she turned her white eyes looking around the basement with a smile only fit for the truly insane. Then her eyes turned to Igrat "Burn it to the ground."

[igrat]

That didn't go as I had planned. I would have thought Pilgrim had more time with the little mortal. At the very least tell her of the hierarchy of Hell.

Igrat glared at the steps that were tarnished by the footsteps of the dimwitted. She sighed disgustedly. "Pilgrim is a coward. He never knew the finer policies of Hell. He might have at one time, but, no longer. Look at him." She smirked angrily. "The impudent wretch has gone human. I think he almost loves that witch. Heh. It's sweet enough to make someone gag." She chuckled softly to herself. "And for all her posturing, I think she may love him too."

"Lydia does seem a little stand offish if you ask me, but I do some what admire that...to a degree. I do know for a fact that the ability to summon a demon will appeal to her darker nature, and with Pilgrim's teachings they will summon Bella back from the Pit."

She turned and started following her Queen around as she gathered some items. Igrat took the sinister item she used to rip out the heart of the idiotic guard and put it into its protective box. She slung it over her shoulder. It was one of her favorite toys and it helped to frighten other demons into actually doing what they were told. "It's not summoning the demon that is the real program, its making Bella's body less of a compost pile. I don't think they will work with us. I must respectfully say, my Queen, that it was a mistake going to them. They will think that we need them. We could have found a different necromancer. One that has less morals than pride." She found happiness in one fact, though; the necromancer is merely a human and she will die in time. And those with dark hearts get sent Below. She will have fun torturing the soul of this one, if her Queen allows it, that is...

"It appears that this location may be compromised. Let us hope that they follow through."

Her head jerked up when she heard her Queen say those words. Her eyes turned black with anticipation.

"Burn it to the ground."

She bowed her head low and mumbled an incantation to Hell. Flames from the pit encircled her right hand. She made her way to the highest room and touched her hand to the walls. She traced destructive runes and ran down the hallways. Her hands creating smoldering and burning lines on the walls. Occasionally she would jump up and slam the burning hand into the ceiling. The guards ran downstairs, picking up valuable trinkets and magical items as they went. Many have gone through this scenario multiple times, the more green ones had problems, many fell to the flames.

"This is far too much fun to do sober!" She found a bottle in a cabinet. A bottle of Macallan brand whiskey, 18 years old. "I love my Queen..." She sniffled as she took off the top and began guzzling the finest whiskey in the world. She made her way back to the basement just as the entire top-most floor erupted into unstoppable flames. She shook her hand out so the fire no longer dripped from it.

She took her Queen's hand, opened a portal that led straight to Lilith's keep Below, and stepped in. The gate closed several moments after. Only a few guards came out of that with their human bodies intact.