A Glimpse of Hell
Legend of the Slayer, p35 of 100
by Philister

Fanfic written for TTH100
Theme: Slayers
Prompt: #094 - Portal
Crossover with DC's John Constantine: Hellblazer (Comic, not Movie)

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Sunnydale, 1998 AD

The man's name is John Constantine. He might have become his age's sorcerer supreme, but he took another path. To most he is a scoundrel, a no-good con-man, a liar and manipulator. Oh, he is all these things. He has also saved the world several times. He likes to think of himself as a man just making his way in the world.

Now his way has led him to Sunnydale in the USA, more particularly a mansion on Crawford Street. It is abandoned now, but he can still smell the fire and brimstone in the air. Something happened here recently. Something that opened a portal to Hell. And John Constantine is well-acquainted with Hell. He's been there before.

Going into a trance, he looks into the recent past. He sees the blonde girl and the vampire fight. The girl is a Slayer, one of those touched by the dark god Shadow. Oh, he has met Shadow, too. Didn't particularly like him. John sees the girl fight and win, but hesitate as something strange happens to the vampire. But none of that matters as the portal opens up behind him, conjured forth by the demon Akathler.

John sees the landscape of Hell through the portal. He could have lived without ever seeing that again. He sees hordes of demons behind it, some old acquaintances among them. He gives them the finger, even though he knows they can't see him. He is only a spectator here.

The girl finally kills the vampire, thereby sealing the portal once more. John briefly takes pity on the vampire. The lords of Hell will not take kindly to one such as him down there. Then his eyes find the girl. The one who is crying as if she has lost everything.

John returns to the present, where the mansion lies still and empty. It appears that the situation here was solved and no intervention on his part is needed. As he leaves, though, he can't help thinking about the girl.

For John Constantine knows that no one, not even a Slayer, can look into the maw of Hell and remain unchanged.

THE END