The fully-branded Focus looked markedly different among parked cars. Having put everything he needed in a bag, he took a look at Balthazar’s business card. “So, I definitely shouldn’t leave it.” John grabbed it. Having cast a purifying spell, he removed the abomination and put it in a pocket. Having hit the road, they’ve been stuck in midday traffic.
At the same time, there’s a meeting to discuss news coverage on an evening news block in a media holding conference room. An incoming manager addressed the crowd:
“Attention, please! John got BWC Pharm’s car and headed to her office.”
A lively discussion has begun.
“Is he back in business?”
“John’s crazy! He’ll start poking his nose “getting in everything”!”
“We’re not as strong as before. So many of us have died thanks to him. What’ll happen if he starts from us?”
“There are huge risks, no doubt,” Balthazar concluded. “The time has come. I cannot explain to you all the details, but he’s interested in disclosing Suicide Channel’s activities and those people or half-breeds who’re behind it. Let this hive stir up. We need to know more about it. Let John do it for us since we cannot get to them ourselves. We’ll only have to wait until they start making mistakes.”
“So… if he begins to interfere with us during an investigation?..”
“This is John Constantine. There’s no “if.” This will happen for sure, but unlike all of them, we’ll be prepared.”
John’s phone rang. As soon as he’d heard the first words, his facial expression changed from indifference to decisiveness.
“Damn it! Hit the brakes! Stop it! Now!”
The driver made sure that he didn’t interfere with anyone and hit the brakes, having become in the rightmost row.
“Go to St. John church! Urgently! Hurry up!”
“We have to go to a meeting with …” the driver protested.
“A life is at stake here. Go, go, go!”
With the whistle of rubber and the roar of an engine, having crossed double solid, they darted off, having turned into the next street.
A prior of the Church of St. John was his old friend Andrew. He was a middle-aged man, to be more precise, about fifty, and had the appearance of an average American. His physique with a paunch bore the imprint of a measured, at least sometimes nervous life. His smile, cordiality, and the ability to be courteous with all sorts of people, almost instantly reducing the distance, increased confidence in him. During his church life, he saved many people from suicide, so his parish was especially popular among desperate teenagers, and he was nicknamed “Saint Andrew” or simply “Saint.” It was believed that if it “didn’t let go” here, then nothing would help.
Focus abruptly parked at the main entrance to the church. The sun peeped out from behind the clouds, having given it majesty. At that moment, it seemed that something significant was about to happen. This time, the presentiment didn’t deceive him. Having flown three steps at once, he ran inside.
“Where’s she?”
“Constantine! It’s a miracle! Thank you for a quick arrival. Please, follow me!”
He grabbed him by the elbow and led him into an inner room. Having gone inside, John was stunned. What he saw plunged him into shock for a few seconds. He froze in his tracks. A girl in the center of the room levitated in a horizontal position three feet above the floor — a white glow emanating from her, amplified, having flooded all interior space.
“What’s up with her?”
“What should not happen, Father Andrew. The Angel-like creature is trying to take control of her… or even worse, to enter our world.”
“If so, John, why am I scared?”
“Because good doesn’t begin with breaking the rules established by the Lord.”
He put his hand to his chin and was lost in thought.
“What should I do? What…”
“Holy water… a prayer…”
“It’s not so easy. It’ll only give it strength. Definitely not!”
A second, two, three have passed.
“Andrew! We have to take her into the courtyard. Run! There’s a way, but this cannot be done in the church; otherwise, everyone will understand what’s happened.”
“We have to pick her up, then quickly carry out to the patio.”
“Place her in the center as accurately as possible.”
John threw the bag from shoulders and began digging in it, having taken everything necessary out.
“Andrew! You’ll be a little surprised now, just do it, then I’ll explain. We’re in need of a pentagram, but a nine-pointed nanogram… just from stones. Do it! Grab the holy water.”
The stones were placed a foot away around the girl.
“We’re running out of time! Damage! We have to make it!”
The outgoing glow began suppressing everything around, having blinded like the sun on a fine day, and with every moment, the brightness increased. John has poured molten wax on the stones with a lighter and sealed them down. In the center of the nanogram, right under the girl, he added various ingredients.
“Andrew! When I say, you have to pour every stone with holy water. If you don’t do it, a blast will take down half LA.”
“No worries. You can rely on me!” He answered resolutely.
“Close your eyes and measure with steps, all by touch. Don’t fail!”
Constantine closed his eyes and put his hands on the girl. Quietly, practically in a whisper, he called himself and began reading a prayer. The glow reached its peak: her skin, clothes, features of the face became almost indistinguishable, and after a moment, they were completely erased. Having felt this state, he realized that this isn’t working at all.
“Bloody Hell!”
Being an experienced exorcist, John has known not only prayers but also various spells. Having found ancient curses from the corners of his memory, he began reading them. His hands turned black and got covered with flowing darkness. The light inside the girl from such a change in the “summoner” began frantically searching for a way out. John tirelessly, despite burns and unbearable pain, uttered curses one by one. It was an incredible struggle that crushed everything in its path and soon threatened to get to John’s consciousness. With great effort, he began taking over, and the light began dimming and “retreating.” The first that has been returned was the girl’s facial features.
“Pour holy water on the stones, Andrew! Come on, do it!”
Holy water has become a catalyst for everything that happens. John, with his hands blackened by curses, flew a few yards away. The light completely disappeared, and the girl gently got down on the ground. The stones turned to ash and began spreading in streams under the pressure of the wind.
“John! How are you? Where are you? May I see?”
“Yes.”
“So, what happened?”
“Are you sure you wanna know?”
“Yeah, especially after seen!”
“I was right. I had to let him get closer. After that, having used curses and dark magic, I was able to drive him back and put the protection on the girl.”
“How about confessing?”
He looked at the blackened hands. Everything he wanted was bubblegum and something to drink.
“Yeah. For sure. It could be used for reliability. Where can I wash my hands?”
The girl knelt down. The shocking state began passing, and she got the power of speech back.
“Who are you? What am I doing here?”
“We’ve saved your life,” said John. “You cannot thank. It’s ok. People usually don’t respect.”
“Thank you,” she answered hesitantly.
“What do you remember the last?” Andrew added. “Let’s go inside.”
“I’ve watched TV. I don’t remember what channel. Something about jumping…”
The same meeting in Balthazar’s office is underway.
“Gentlemen! Attention please,” Balthazar addressed the audience, “did you hear that?” He happily stared at the assembled staff.
“What’s up?” They began bombarding him with questions.”
“John-has-started-to-read-curses!”
“No way!” Half-breeds have revived.
“How long I haven’t heard them from him! What’s the interesting precedent,” Balthazar added.
“Is he with us… on our side?”
“It would definitely strengthen us!”
“No, it wouldn’t. Flywheels have been set in motion! Everyone will come between a rock and a hard place. A Doberman clenched its teeth, having gripped the prey. So, only death can stop it.”
“I’ll share the intel that John Constantine is back in business.”
“Do it, please, for me,” he proved the decision.
“So… Bal, tell me please, what John has done. I’m dying to know,” Si added. He was one of his most entrusted assistants.
“You’ll go crazy when you catch out,” said Balthazar with a playful grin. “So, listen to me…”