A/N: Well, this is the last chapter. I originally had this come later, but I felt like my story just took too many twists and turns to be actually interesting anymore, so...we end here. I'd like to thank everyone who has followed and favorited, and all my lovely reviewers. Thanks to VattaKeto, Sharllissa, sammysmissingshoe, Leandra Falconwing, Jenna, and Soulless666 for your reviews last chapter! You guys rock.

-Jaq

Hell was red.

It was hot, and miserable, and it stank, but the thing that assaulted Sam's senses the most was the redness. It clashed, it demanded to be seen. Red, everywhere.

There was blood. So, so much blood. Rivers of blood, literally. The lighting came from flames that licked up the walls and made Sam scrunch up his nose at the smell of burning sulfur.

All in all, it was Hell.

And even though Dean was a demon now, Sam knew that his brother-his real brother- had spent time down here. Centuries. And not like Sam was, watching the outermost layer, either. Dean would have been one of the screams that echoed down the hallway, the cries and the wails and-

Sam just shut it out, cutting it all off. It was too much. Turning to Crowey, he remained impassive.

The King of Hell smiled, and so did Dean.

"Lovely place, innit?" Crowley asked. "Wait until you see my office. Floor-to-ceiling windows in front of the best torture galleries in the place. And leather recliners, made with human skin. So comfortable."

Sam nodded, unsure what to do.

He had to keep up the act, but if he was too enthusiastic, he might be suspected. It was a balancing act, a delicate balance between giving up and pretending.

Following Crowley and Dean to Crowley's office, Sam saw more demons than he ever cared to. Worse was the fact that, when he passed, whispers would break out. Reaching out with his senses, Sam heard them.

"-the Boy King, Sam Winchester-" one hissed, its pungent breath drifting up Sam's nose.

"-and now we can rule-" said another, its tone hungry, lustful. Lusting after power that it thought Sam would give it.

"The Boy King-" came a low voice, and that was the worst of all. It was what Azazel had called him, years ago. It was what he was afraid of, his own worst enemy. And no matter how hard he tried, he just couldn't outrun it.

"The King-" he heard again, and Sam felt the rage begin to grow.

thekingthekingthekingtheking over and over and it scared Sam, badly. If he wasn't so damn angry at them all, he might have run, just bolted then and there, but he didn't. He was supposed to be their king. He couldn't escape it, couldn't do anything, because it had been his frigging destiny since he was six months old, and maybe Sam was just never supposed to be the good guy.

But he already broke the world once, back at Devil's Gate, and Sam had no intention of shattering it again. Now, he had to try and put it back together. He had thought that he succeeded, when Ruby's plan failed, but now...there were all sorts of new opportunities for Sam to screw up.

And maybe, more opportunities to finally fix something. The demons were staring at him, and Sam could feel their fear. They knew he was more powerful than them. So he strode confidently, smiling as the black, twisted souls made way for him. Maybe...

Sam felt more powerful in hell than he had Topside. It just...flowed better. He could sense every demon down there, and he wanted to take them all on. Let them come, he thought irrationally, his anger fueling him. He didn't feel afraid, not anymore. Dean and Crowley might think that they had the upper hand, but Sam wasn't stupid. That was the first mistake that they had made. It was obvious Dean hadn't seen his brother in centuries; Sam's brother would never try and get Sam to give up so easily.

So he followed, waiting for the right moment. He could take them all, just explode, use his energy, just...do it. He was invincible, and beware to anybody that got in his way.

But then they arrived at the office, and Sam was yanked out of his thoughts.

"Well, little brother? Ready to lead an army?"

Sam's head snapped up at Dean's words. "I..." he started, thinking. "I don't want to kill anyone."

But it was a lie, and he knew it, and Dean knew it. Sam wanted to kill. Lots of things, not necessarily people. Demons, monsters, people (but only the bad people, he told himself. Only them)...

With a cruel smile, Dean nodded slowly. "Wait until you do. The rush...it's like having a drink, Sammy. You can't just take one sip and be done, and before you know it you've finished the whole damn bottle." A gleam came into his eyes that Sam knew was pure demon. His brother was lost, he knew for certain. Dean wouldn't say that.

"You did excellent back there with...what did you call her? Meg. Excellent," Crowley stated, the same shine in his eyes. "Care to try again?" He picked up a curved knife, almost a small scimitar, and held it out to Sam.

Yes, the blood sang, screaming out to Sam. Take it, and kill them. Kill them all.

Sam accepted the knife without saying anything. Crowley nodded to Dean, and the demon exited, returning a few seconds later, dragging a young man.

Grunting, Dean threw the man at Sam's feet.

Sam felt the blood swirling in his brain, demanding to be used.

And he made his decision.

Bringing the blade down, he bit through his own skin, slicing through the sigil Dean had made. It didn't remove its power, but it temporarily weakened it, and Sam was stronger down here anyway.

Exerting all the force he had, Sam made a wall. Pushing, he watched as the demons sprang back, forced by Sam's power. Closing his eyes, Sam exploded,and a shockwave of pure energy slammed out. He went full-out, feeling powerful, invincible. And Sam ran.

He ran to the opening, and he knew his brother was behind him, but Dean wouldn't get out. Not this time.

"Keep running, Sammy!" Dean called. "Keep running! But one day, we'll catch you, and Sam?" Dean paused, a smile etching itself onto his face. "It won't be pretty."

Sam knew that. He believed it. But for now, he ran like hell.

A/N 2: I know that sort of ended like a cliffhanger, but I really feel like it was the right place to end. Maybe I'll write a sequel later in time, if I feel like it. Anyway, thank you so much for reading this and sticking it out to the end. Have an awesome day. Also, if you don't mind, maybe a reveiw? Thanks!

-Jaq