Dear readers,

So sorry for the late updates, but I have been very busy lately looking after my mother. She has been extremely sick with cancer and treatments but luckily she is much better and in remission, and I am back! So look for more updates, including rejection letters and Dirty south! ^.^

Crowley took a long sip of his well-aged red wine. He was standing at his ornate mahogany desk (even though the chair was right next to him) as he flipped through the pages of the newest manuscript that had been sent to him. There were many good reasons why he possessed a mildly successful literary agent, and this was one of them. Not only did he get to meet dozens of dozens of desperate writers who would do anything to become award-winning authors, allowing him to make ridiculous amounts of deals and money... but he got to read the newest and hottest books before they where even PUBLISHED.

It was a perk that he enjoyed, and abused as much as possible.

He had just circled a red loop around a sentence to let the editor know to fix it when Anne burst into the room. Looking like the hellfire and brimstone she had been forged it. Crowley's eyebrow raised at her, not because of the dramatic entrance (He was used to those by now..) But at the lightly singed and ripped dress she was wearing. That was just not Anne's way. He knew she didn't go out to make deal today, if she had run into hunters he was sure there would be at least a few pints of blood all over her. And wasn't it only an hour ago that she went to put Conner to bed?

What in the hell did darling mummy get up to now? Crowley wondered. Anne put her hands on her hips and somehow stood even straighter.

"Just so you're informed... You should know that sent I sent a few of your Peons back downstairs for a Attitude Adjustment..." She hissed. Crowley gave a long-suffering sigh.

"And what was the offense this time?..."

"Conner overheard them talking. About how you HATE people who fail you, and how you punishment them severely. He got scared, and started to fear that you would do the same to him.. Like his uncle did." Crowley frowned at this, and shut the manuscript that was in front of him. That wouldn't do, that wouldn't do at all. He didn't want his prince terrified of him. He wanted Connor to continue to adore him and hero-worship his Daddy... Crowley kind of liked having it that way.

That would have to be righted very soon.. Still, He didn't think that was cause enough for Anne to send them packing back to hell.

"So I went to go correct their behavior, and tell them not to hold those kind of conversations were little ears could hear them... And I found out that they let him overheard that conversation ON PURPOSE." Crowley's eyes when wide at those words. Both quickly turned to a deep, blood-red glare.

"They.. What?..." he whispered dangerously.

"Apparently, They though it would be good fun to scare the 'worthless demon pup...' They where going to tell more and more stories as the weeks went on, One was even hoping to give him nightmares! For their own amusement, obviously.." She stomped her way over to one of the ornate overstuffed chairs and dropped herself in, her fabric once again swimming around her. Crowley just sighed.

"This is getting ridiculous... First, the demon world is alight with pride over the thought of a new Cambion. Now I hear whispers of Two other kings wanting to kill him, a report of a plan from Azazel to kidnap him, and three factions wanting to use him as a sacrifice when his Demon magic awakens in three years! Now, THIS?! My own people, my OWN HOME?.." He said, working himself into a rage, as the fireplace behind him leapt with flames, and the light bulbs in the room flickered or busted.

Anne gave a light smile as she looked at the flickering lights and flames with a condescending look and raised eyebrow. It was obvious she was not all that impressed with the theatrics.

"He's VULNERABLE... Of course they want to act now, before he gets strong." Anne stated impetuously at him. She looked down and picked sadly at her scorched sleeve. "As you said, His demon magic will wake in 3 years.. His accidental magic isn't controllable, but it's obviously there, and may jump-start soon as well. Then he'll be Dangerous... and able to protect himself."

She then removed of a bit of blackened fabric with a snap, and then turned back to Crowley.

"But you and I both know that things will only get worse before they get better... A lot can happen in three years. And danger will be coming from every other faction and King in Hell as well. Not just the few we already know of. If they can't control him or have something they can use against him, then he's a threat. And as you well know, Demons like their threats dead."

Crowley stopped as his jaw locked again and he growled, his eyes still blood-red.

"THIS shouldn't even be a problem! I shouldn't even have to WORRY about this kind of thing! There should be more than enough fear and respect behind him that every demon on this plane wouldn't even DREAM of coming that near the boy! Conner should be OFF-LIMITS, COMPLETELY HANDS OFF, just for being under my name!"

Anne responded by sending a quick wave a magic with a flick of her wrist. A SMACK was heard as she slapped Crowley from across the room. Crowley eyes widened for a moment, before two sets of blood-red eyes both glared at one another hatefully. The two were not married, nor even a couple, so Anne had few issues with using a little light abuse on him.

".. And that's the kind of thinking that's going to get our prince KILLED... Your highness..." Anne hissed back. Crowley snatched his glass up and took another hard drink. It was a few more moments before his eyes, or Anne's went back. Crowley stayed standing at his desk as he thought over the truth of Anne's words... Anne herself sat calmly perched on her seat, waiting for Crowley to continue the situation.

"Very well.. You have a point. What do you suggest we do?"

Anne's beautiful smile then turned into a dangerous, Vindictive smirk. Her eyes gleamed with a sickening joyful edge.

"Strike first, ask questions later... Strike Terror in their hearts as quickly as possible, and keep it growing... Lower the number Demons we have around here to our trusted few, our very trusted few, and no one else. Plus.. A second home would also be a good idea. Keep him there, and say he's here. Misleading them could not only save our boy, but get those after him caught. I hear the New York Palaceades are wonderful..."

Crowley snickered at the Demoness. "Looking to get back in a Palace bedroom soon, eh?.." He quipped.

Anne's fire quickly turned to ice as those words, but It only served to amused Crowley more. He loved rubbing her human past in her face, just as much as she hated been reminded of it.

"I'll think on it... Now, Let's just get back to business, shall we?..."

"Very well, My King." Anne said as she got up, and started to make her way out the door. Crowley bet that it was more than likely to change into a different dress. "Just remember... When we took him in all those years ago, you swore that you would to EVERYTHING to make sure Conner makes it to adulthood..." Anne said, as she paused at the door, and looked back to him. "And I will hold you to that, Crowley... EVERYTHING means EVERYTHING..."

"Yes, Your Grace..." Crowley snapped at her hatefully.

He didn't need to be reminded, and he didn't like the implication that He didn't care for his son as much as Anne did.. He didn't know why, but he didn't like it... Anne gave him one last Piercing look, but left without another word.