Chapter 10: Points of Convergence (No. 1)
The alarm clock blared loudly than John would've liked it to. Eyes peeling open at the sight of the motel clock's digitized numbers, he got up groggily. If it weren't for the nightmares that plagued him every night, he would consider it a restful sleep. But then again, he was far too knackered to toss and turn amidst the memories of that night. Sitting up on the bed, he only realized just then how late he had slept in when he realized it was almost noon.
Bollocks. I was supposed to meet up with them an hour ago.
He got up and went over to his suitcase to grab some fresh clothes. As he cleaned himself up, he prepared himself mentally for the day ahead. It seemed that he'd made some real progress last night, or at least more than the Slaying Saints of Sunnydale had. Given the facts of the case, he figured that it couldn't be just a solitary vampire responsible. They were probably dealing with a nest. But at the moment, it was the furthest thought from Constantine's mind.
If whoever is leading this nest has a helluva lot of power if they're capable of controlling a wraith.
After a quick shower, he donned his usual attire, a white shirt, black slacks, and a tie. Feeling a bit less dead inside, but only a bit, he lit up his first cigarette of the day. Putting on his trench coat, and grabbing his carpetbag he sauntered out the door, slamming it behind him.
Once more unto the breach.
The sound of a door slamming shook Faith out of her sleep instantly. Sitting up, scanning the room around her, she breathed a small sigh of relief. Ever since the incident with Kakistos, she'd been paranoid about a repeat event happening with another vampire. Thankfully that hadn't happened yet. Figuring that she might as well get ready for the day now that she was up, she got out of bed and began getting ready for the day. Or what was left of it.
Last night's patrol went on longer than she expected. And it wasn't as if she was a morning person. A nice long shower erased the last few bits of tension and stress from the previous days. Putting on a tight, sleeveless black shirt and a pair of denim shorts, she caught a look of herself in the mirror.
Faith Lehane, you are looking five by five.
Ready for the day, smile plastered on her face and her attitude in better spirits than before, she made her way to Sunnydale High.
Better see what the Scoobies are up to.
Stepping into the halls of Sunnydale High during school hours proved to be annoying for John to no end. He clearly stood out, what with the coat, and whether-beaten look, and dour expression, and the fact that he was clearly not a high school student. Ever the outsider, John lit up another cigarette as he walked through the school hallway to the library.
Because why the hell not?
Opening the doors, he stepped through and was greeted by the sight of Giles, Buffy Summers, and her two sidekicks – whose names escape me at the moment – already in what appeared to be wrapped up in discussion.
"Ah, John it's about time you got here", said Giles, with subtle annoyance. "Buffy was just about to recount to us the events of last night."
"Yeah, yeah. Let's get on with it shall we?"
"Right, well as Buffy was just saying, you two had an encounter with a spirit over Cemetery correct?"
"That's right. A wraith."
"A wraith? Good heavens! Are you sure?" asked Giles. He had every reason to be nervous at this bit of news.
"As sure as can be." John said leaning on the checkout counter. "I know necromancy when I see it, hell I've used it a few times myself."
That was one hell of a holiday. But then again, Jerusalem isn't exactly the best place to be experimenting with cocaine and black magic.
Putting out the remnants of his cigarette in the cup of coffee on Giles' desk, which only earned him death stares from his old teacher, he began recounting the events of the patrol in the cemetery. As he and Buffy recounted their tale, he could notice the overexcited redhead from yesterday listening with the same studious ambition that he once had at that age.
"And how exactly did you manage to get your hands on a shroud of Moses' robe?" Giles asked, upon hearing how he managed to defeat the wraith.
"It's called having mates, grandad." Okay, maybe calling Midnite a 'friend' is a bit of a stretch.
Rolling his eyes at Constantine's words, but inwardly worried at what his old friend has been doing since they last spoke, he carried on.
"Right. And if what you claim is true, which I must admit is starting to seem as such, then we're dealing with a large nest of vampires. Or at least a group who have the employ of dark magic practitioners."
"Really?" asked Willow, with a mix of worry and morbid fascination. "How can you tell that?"
"Wraiths, in general, are usually ghosts trapped on this plane of existence", explained Constantine. "By themselves, these spirits aren't harmful – "
"But they only become wraiths when the darker remnants of their soul are corrupted", completed Giles, earning a passive-aggressive look from John. "The type of dark magics that are needed to elicit such control belong to the realm of necromancy."
Willow took all this information in, her curiosity only increasing with every explanation given by the two Englishmen.
"That's not all there is, chief." John said with a bit of worry in his voice. Turning to Buffy, he asked, "Did you tell him yet?"
"Tell me what?" asked Giles.
"When Summers and I stopped by at the last victim's house, I used a spell to get a profile of the vampire responsible, and..."
"Giles," Buffy continued. "He didn't look like any vampire I've ever seen before."
Looking back and forth between the two, confusion marring his face he asked her, "What do you mean?"
"I mean, he didn't have the half-demony face, or the yellow eyes. He looked almost normal, besides the fangs."
"I see. You think we may dealing with some new… breed of vampire."
The guarded look on John's face told Giles everything he wanted to hear, but didn't want to know.
"Wait a minute", interrupted Xander, "there are different types of vampires? How come we didn't know about this?"
"Because there aren't. At least not according to all the research that the Council has done on them." Giles said wiping his glasses for the umpteenth time. "While there are references to an ancient type of vampire called the Turok-Han, most demonologists have claimed to be nonexistent. And those that believe them to have once existed are also sure that they're extinct. But as of yet, no evidence has been found that would lead to the conclusion of another species of vampire."
"Yes, because you can always depend on dusty old tomes to yield the truth." John replied sarcastically. You always did place too much trust in those books, Giles.
Resisting the urge to roll his eyes at John's remarks, Giles took out the stack of autopsy reports and placed them on the table. "Yes, well here are the autopsy reports that you had wanted. If you want to gleam through them to get any information…" He gestured his hand to the manila envelopes.
As John sat down and began leafing through the twenty-seven autopsy reports– Christ, this job can be so shite at times – that he had to read through, Giles continued, "Also, to add to our difficulties, another body has been found."
The tension and nervousness that descended on the room seemed to crawl onto everyone's face, save for John. Ever since Newcastle, he never physically displayed his feelings unless he wanted to. I prefer to internalize all that crap. A side-effect of being British, I suppose.
"Another body?" exclaimed Willow.
"Yes, a student over at the university. Her body was found in the room of her apartment."
"How come you didn't think to start us off with that bit of news?" Xander asked, worry marring his face.
"Yeah", exclaimed Buffy, "I think we should've got the memo about this first." She tried to mask her guilt at this revelation. Great. Another person I couldn't save.
"I wanted to make sure that everyone was here, before I broke the news." Giles said. "Speaking of which, we should wait for Faith to arrive. Update her on the new developments."
Buffy took a glance at the grumpy-looking exorcist, who had seemed to tune out the conversation and was now reading and sifting through a whole mess of papers.
Well, "new development" is one way of putting him. Maybe Faith can get a handle on this guy.
"You're probably right, Giles." She said, realizing the truth of his actions and being too tired to argue. "Have you found anything, yet Mr. Constantine?"
The magus just looked up at her with an eyebrow raised, a hard look in his eyes. Geez, what is this guy's problem? It's not like I've asked him why he acts like he's got a stick up his –
"Stop calling me that. Reminds me too much of me dad."
Buffy, Willow, and Xander all looked perplexed at this explanation. Giles looked up in surprise. Despite all the years that they've known each other, he knew very little of John's family and childhood. In fact, it was the first time he's ever referenced his dad in front of him.
"Okay", said Xander hesitantly. "So, what do we call you oh, great master of the dark arts."
"Just 'John' is fine." He removed another autopsy report and quickly skimmed through it. "Also, I should say that I'm more of a petty dabbler."
"Petty dabbler?" asked Willow, slightly confused. So, he's not a real mage?
"Calling myself a 'Master of the Dark Arts' makes me sound like a pretentious wank. And I do hate to put on airs…" he drifted off as he focused on something in the autopsy.
"What is it John?" Giles asked, hopeful he had found something in the autopsy.
"The hospital administrator. It says here that the cause of death is suicide." He said, absently as if something had clicked in his head.
"Y-yes. Dr. Julian Espinoza." Giles explained. "His body was discovered with a revolver in hand. Obviously, any evidence of it being related to the recent string of killings has been dismissed by the police."
"Interesting…" he drifted off. John was suspicious now. There's more to this than I expected.
Returning to his study of the autopsy reports, the Scoobies deflated in exasperation seeing that their consulting occultist neglected to reveal his thoughts to them. Their exasperation was soon replaced with surprise as they heard the doors to the library open.
The four of them turned to look at the new arrival, while John only took a quick glance. He smiled slightly, and looked back down, obscuring his face from the new arrival's view.
Ah, the brown-eyed Slayer. This ought to be fun.
Faith felt five by five, or as five by five as she could feel knowing that there was some a-hole vamp out there who had managed to get the better of two slayers. Having left her motel room, hoping to avoid Columbo's evil English twin, she arrived at Sunnydale High. Navigating the halls to the school library, he could hear the Scoobies already in discussion.
Pushing open the doors of the library, she was greeted by the slightly surprised faces of Giles, Xander, Willow, and Buffy.
"Hey, B! What's the sitch on our mystery vamp? Got any new leads?" Faith asked, strutting into the library toward the group.
"We've managed to make a bit of headway. Giles was able to get some help from a friend of his. And trust me he's really good with the supernatural stuff."
"Oh? So, who is it? Some fuddy-duddy Watcher?" she asked skeptical of who this new player in the game might be.
"On the contrary, he's an invaluable ally, if not a source of perpetual annoyance." Expounded Giles, as he turned to the figure sat on the table, back toward her. He seemed to be reading through, what she considered, a shit-ton of paperwork.
"What can I say, chief? I have a reputation to maintain."
Her eyes widened significantly at the stranger's remark. She'd heard that voice before.
No way. No freaking way.
The man got up and turned to face her. The grin plastered across his face almost set her on fire. It was the same one that managed to play her yesterday afternoon.
"Nice to see you again, luv." The blonde Englishman greeted her. "I'm guessing you're Faith?"
If Faith could see her own face right now, she'd have been greeted with the sight of herself torn between shock and outrage. Either way, she was as speechless as she had been yesterday.
"I know that I have a certain way with the ladies, but I've never made on speechless before." He said in a tone laced with mischief.
"How did… who… what… why the hell is this bastard here?" She exploded. The last thing I need is more surprises in the form of sexy dickheads.
"Wait, you two have already met?" asked Buffy. Man, this guy gets around.
"Oh, we've met alright." Faith thought back to the weird feeling she got around this guy. It was disturbingly fascinating to say the least. She was feeling it again.
"And what a meeting it was. Shame we didn't take the time to introduce ourselves properly", he remarked, eyes sparkling with that all-knowing look. Reaching into his pocket, he removed a business card. "Allow me to fix that, luv."
She was handed a business card, which was something she didn't expect from an exorcist? What the hell? Is this guy for real? "So, John Constanteen –"
"That's Constantine. T-I-N-E. Rhymes with fine." He said with undisguised annoyance.
It most certainly does, she thought, as her eyes scanned him up and down. Just 'cause I don't trust the guy doesn't mean I can't enjoy a hot piece of ass when I see it.
"You really as good as B says you are?" Being a Slayer, meant that she was aware of the supernatural. But she was skeptical about what this guy could do. He didn't look like much. Hell, the dude dresses like a Watcher gone rogue. Or an alcoholic tax accountant.
"I'm wounded that you'd think otherwise. You certainly seemed to trust me yesterday."
"Earning my trust goes a long way, pal." She crossed her arms in defiance.
"Considering that I managed to get, what I suspect is your lot's first lead, I think I deserve the benefit of the doubt."
The two seemed to have stepped closer to each other as they verbally sparred, or flirted if you asked anyone else in the room. Going from a look of suspicion to one of fascination, with a hint of that flirtatious nature she was known for, Faith seemed for the first time in her life morbidly curious about someone. Not something, someone.
Having watched the whole exchange, the other Scoobies felt a tad bit uncomfortable. If one of them didn't do something soon, total bedlam would erupt soon.
"Ah…um…Faith, now that you're here I can update you on all the recent developments." Giles said, back in full Watcher mode in the hopes of regaining some civility. "Another body has been found. But John, here has successfully identified the culprit as a possibly new breed of vampire."
Faith taking the information in, but still staring down the charismatic mage, nodded at the news. Being the first to tear her eyes away from the stare-fest going down between them, she turned to Giles and asked, "A new breed of vamps? That's new."
"Well, that certainly seems to be the theme of this case." John responded, turning back to look at the table of papers. "And now that we've been introduced, we can finally decide on our next move."
"Yes, that's something I'd like to get to as well." Giles said. He was grateful for even the tiniest bit of cooperation from the magus. "The first thing we should do is try to see if we can garner any information from the recent murder."
"Good idea, chief." He said, taking out his pack of Silk Cuts. "I think you're more than capable of handling that, unless you've gotten sloppy in your advanced age."
"I can assure you John, my skills in the mystic arts are as strong as they ever were." Giles responded irately.
"That's a shame. It'll have to do." He said lighting his cigarette, blowing smoke all over the room. "Red, you said you dabbled a bit in the mystic arts? It's best that you go with the old codger. A bit of youthful perspective might do him good."
Willow nodded, finding herself acquiescing to the exorcist's command, while Giles sighed at Constantine's insulting behavior.
"Ms. Summers, when you're patrolling tonight take extra care. If you see something unfamiliar, don't try to engage it in battle." He advised, his defenses lowering for a minute to emphasize the importance of this. Pointing to Xander, he continued. "Take your lad, along. I don't know how good he is in combat, but it'll be better to have an extra set of eyes just in case."
Buffy nodded in agreement. She might not have fully trusted Constantine, but she was confident that he at least wasn't incompetent. And if it meant not having to spend another length of time with him, she'd take it.
"And as for you, luv," he said turning to the rebellious brunette, "you and I will have a little peek around Sunnydale General. I've got a feeling that someone doesn't want to find out the truth about our deceased doc."
"Hold on a minute there, English." She said, stepping up in front of him. "What exactly gives you the right to call all the shots, huh?"
"Not a bloody thing, luv." He said, squaring his shoulders as he stared her down. "Nothing's keeping me here, but if you lot think that you can handle the situation without my help, then I'll just pop back to New York first thing tomorrow."
"No, John please." Giles interrupted. "We need you here, especially given the unknown nature of this new threat." This better be worth the trouble that is sure to follow.
Eyes darting back and forth between his former teacher and the stubborn-looking slayer, he responded, "Calm your arse, chief. You asked me to be help out, I'm helping out." She's gonna be one helluva challenge. I like her already.
The school bell rung signaling that the students' lunch break was over. Buffy, Xander, and Willow all started to get up and leave., when Constantine spoke up once more to them.
"When you lot have finished with your studies, get on ahead with the plan. The sooner we find more information, the sooner we can put an end to all this bedlam."
"Don't worry, mate", responded Xander, placing an unflattering imitation of John's accent on 'mate', "We got this taken care of."
Rolling their eyes at Xander's quips, Buffy and Willow both ushered Xander out of the library along with them.
"Now, Giles, that list of vampires that the Council sent you, I'd like to see it. I have my own theory about this, but I'm not willing to take any major steps in confronting the bloodsuckers that are behind this until I've got some confirmation."
"Of course. Let me get the list for you." Giles looked unnerved at the implications of John's words. This case is starting to turn very left-field, even for us. He stepped back into his office to retrieve the list for John.
Turning toward Faith, he took a breath. And then there were two.
"Now then, Faith, I can tell you're not one to take orders from strangers."
"More like, I'm not a fan in placing my life in the hands of random English ass-hats."
"Fair enough," he countered, "but I will need your help for this. So, if you do find it within your pretty little heart to trust me, I promise you that I won't step on your shoes. Deal?"
She raised his eyebrow at him, considering the offer. Thinking back to the weird feeling she felt yesterday, and just how much more emphasized it seemed to be today, she was unnerved to say the least. This guy was going to be difficult to be around, let alone work with. But she wasn't one to back down from a challenge. And if it all meant getting one step closer to slaying the big bad, then what could go wrong?
"Deal." She said, curtly. So much for avoiding this guy, but maybe that's not a bad thing.
"Lovely." He replied, just as Giles stepped back out with the list. "I've to make a few calls before we can press on. So, what say you we meet up at the motel around 4 before we head on over to the hospital?"
"Five by five, English. See you in a few." She said, sauntering out of the library putting a little bit of sway in her hips, just for the possibility that it'd get him all hot and bothered. She'd never know just how much it had worked.
Bloody hell, John. Get a hold of yourself.
Watching her as she left the library, he had to give it to her. She could definitely hold her own against his "charming" attitude, which was very rare these days. The last few years have made him more of a grumpy sod than he usually was. Shaking himself out of those thoughts, he got out his mobile phone from his pocket. He needed to make one or two inquiries before he could carry out his plan.
First on the list, Jason Blood. Here's to hoping I don't receive the usual "fuck off" from him.
Ten chapters! I didn't think I'd make it this far. This is also the longest chapter that I've written to date. The exchange between Constantine and Faith was extremely fun to write despite how difficult it was getting into the mindsets of both characters.
I've already plotted out how this story is going to end, so there will be more time in between chapter updates for the sake of better writing because I have noticed a lot of grammatical errors in previous chapters, as well as some tiny continuity issues. That's because I post first drafts of these and any editing I do is very light. So, I will be taking more time to write just for the sake of minimizing these errors.
Also I will be rewriting the previous chapters, mostly to fix grammar and ensure continuity. But don't worry, no major changes will be made. The reason that I'm doing this is because I've got plans for future stories and the continuity matters, at least to me. I've got it all sorted as to how the Hellblazer/Vertigo universe fits in with the Buffyverse.
And yes, those were shout-outs to Papa Midnite and Etrigan the Demon.
Reviews are always appreciated!