Fifty years has passed since John and Elisa became demons, linked to Sombra, and their child, that they named Aggerath, and grew up as If Sombra was his big brother. To other demons and humans, Sombra, Crowley, and their “pets” as their title was, was fierce, and without mercy. Behind the inclosed and warded walls of the places they called home over the years, they were...something. Something to outsiders, to Sombra, it was Family. Over the years many deals were made, souls collected, and so forth, the two making their names known in hell and to the other crossroads demons.
Oddly enough, in fifty years Sombra only grew a foot or so taller, and his actions and choice of words placed him into his teen years, or so Crowley figured. Navarro was still his best, and closest friend. Sombra also began to test his abilities over shadows. He learned he could read people’s minds when his shadow tentacles would reach out to them. He also, when inside the shadow, could control the weak minded, and plant suggestions in those who’s minds and wills were stronger, creating all sorts of fun and chaos...and a few deals.
“Checkmate.” John said, his queen knocking over Sombra’s on the chessboard.
Sombra, facing his ten thousandth defeat against John in chess, let his face fall to the table. “I hate this game…” He grumbled. “How are you so good?”
“Back when I was human my father was a scholar, chess was his favorite pass time and when I was old enough he taught me how to play and more often than not he and I would end up in long stalemates, one move on either side would leave up open for defeat from each other. If neither of us could come up with a strategy, we usually ended up calling it a draw and started over.”
“Damn…” Combra grumbled. “I need to have more of a view of this game like you do.”
“My dad always said ‘think like a tyrant and it can open up new views’.” John said as he began setting the pieces back into place. “Like anything, it takes time to master properly, and we all have more than enough.”
As John finished setting the final piece back into place, Crowley teleported into the room, his vessel now a short, ginger haired irishman in his late thirties early forties. “Sombra do I have the deal of a life time!” He said, excited.
Sombra had mixed feelings. Whenever Crowley got excited, it was a coin flip as to how it would work out. “What is it this time?”
“Boy, there is a deal about to hit the table, for ten thousand souls.”
“Ten thousand? How?”
“The current leader of china is waging his own soul, as well as the soul of ten thousand unhonorable people, have no idea why they hold honor so highly, for a cure for his daughter's illness.”
“How can one man also speak for that many souls?”
“Simple, they will follow him and do whatever he says, simply because he’s him. It’s the easiest way for us to get to the top.”
“So, why tell me? You could have gone to do the deal yourself.”
That made Crowley scratch the back of his head. “Well, that’s the thing, because all those souls are in this deal, they all are going to be used to make the deal.”
“Wait...so, ten thousand souls just to do the work one soul can?”
“Yes, I, nor can most demons handle that much power, but…”
“...But you think I can?”
“Exactly.”
“What makes you think I can?”
“Because you are beyond demons, you age, you can do things we can and can’t, and, you have a body that is yours. If I do it, I might survive, but this body will burn out, and I will be incapacitated for a long time, your body is linked to your...whatever it is you got, it changes into shadow with you, so you can pull this deal off.”
Sombra pondered the prospect. “Well, I guess. But I expect a new born baby!” That made both John and Crowley stare at Sombra. “To eat. Duh.” That satisfied them as Sombra rolled his eyes, jumping into shadow and heading off to China. When a deal this large is called, it isn’t hard to find, just follow the other demons. Once in China, Sombra saw many demons all coming along to try and take the deal first, but hesitant, that many souls, that much power, tempting as honey, yet deadly as poison.
Sombra shadowed himself into the building, the deal caller was easy to spot, an old man, dressed in rather elegant regalia, and on a bed next to him, a young girl, no older than ten, sleeping though a high fever. As Sombra appeared, the old man looked up. “So, finally one of you has come?”
“Yeah. Lot of souls on the line and I just walked in while all the others are weighing the options.” Sombra explained. “So, what exactly is wrong with her?”
The old man looked at the girl, his daughter, and sighed. “An illness, she traveled west for a time to negotiate trades, and a week after returning, she grew ill, at first it was small things, not, none of the best healers from here or out west know what is wrong. No medicine helps, and her fever just grows.”
“Ah. Well, alright, you know how this is done?”
“From what I have been told, a kiss.”
“Yeah.”
“...Why, if I may ask?”
“No idea.”
“...Is it a rule or…”
“You’re procrastinating?”
“...Yes.”
Dinner time, a relaxing time for this…”Family”. Human meat and blood was served on plates, fresh as they could get, and it was, served with sides, mashed potatoes, mixed vegetables, fresh made lemonade, and, for Crowley, scotch. His brand. This was a rare day, everyone had a cup of his brand, save for Sombra, who, despite being over fifty years old, aged physically and mentally, about to the age of fourteen. Crowley stood, raising a glass. “Here, we celebrate Sombra, and the biggest Deal in demon history since Atlantis. Ten thousand souls, I have received word from Lilith herself, that this deal makes me, and Sombra, the king, that’s me, and prince, that’s you Sombra, of the Crossroads. We will have it all. Fame, fortune, an army of grunts to do the dirty work, and we get the cherry pickings of the best souls. That’s right, it’s top shelf customers from here on out.”
“Good work Sombra.” John said, patting him on the back while Elisa hugged him.
“Heh, thanks. It hurt like heck with all that power surging through me, but I walked away with the deal of the century in my hooves, and a horde of demons bowing to me as I walked out of that temple.” Sombra said with pride.
“And for that, I give you a taste of my brand.” Crowley said, pouring some of his favorite whisky into a glass cup and placing it in front of Sombra. “Have a taste.” Sombra took a sniff, the strong odor made his nose cring in response, but using his shadows, his lifted the glass up, and took a sip. It was like drinking hellfire, and it burned all the way down his throat. When he finished off the glass, he felt like eating hot coal would have been less painful. After a while, Sombra grew sleepy.
He hit the table, dead to the world. Crowley, for his part, chuckled, and drank straight from the bottle. “Light weight.”