Who are you in the dark?

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Chapter 7: Complication

That evening, 07:50 PM

Fox Gardens, Crest hill

Alexandria Ainsworth

In all honesty, I wasn't very sure on what to expect. I thought this could be some party or business meeting among the richest of Gotham…Even with the strange circumstances of my invitation…

But the stench of corrupting magic made it quite obvious that this was not the case. I appreciated the fact that I had come at least somewhat prepared now.

This was a somewhat formal event with most of the wealthy of Crest Hill attending. In any other context, I would have taken out one of the old dresses that I owned…might even have had to take one of my mom's dresses as I hadn't really bought any since she passed.

But I wasn't wearing a dress. Instead, I was wearing a form-fitting suit with an embroidered tie I got from my Dad's closet. I was representing my own company here, so I may as well dress the part…It also allows me to hide a gun within the jacket, but no one has to know that.

The weapon in question was an older M1911 pistol of rather decent quality…I hope at least. I just looked it up and it seemed to be ok…The reason for me using it was the fact that I am still incredibly inexperienced and have found myself to be very slow when reloading my weapons, especially the revolvers. When I'm using my costume, I can technically just swap out the bullets with magic, but I'm here in my civilian identity. So I'm using a pistol with simple magazines instead. I draw my focus away from the weapon and ammo securely hidden in my outfit and concentrate on the people around me.

The venue was already full of Gotham's elite but was strangely missing a few key players. No one among the Vanaver's, Wycliffe's or Wayne's was around nor were any of the more criminal "Entrepreneurs" attending.

They have infested everything in this city.

….Strange. It felt as if one of those headaches was about to come over me again, but it just…fizzled out…

Eh, it doesn't matter right now.

Focusing back on the guests around me, I can't help but find it ironic that those first three families are known for being supposedly squeaky clean. It's a bit suspicious honestly.

The way towards the buffet was thankfully unobstructed and I can get myself a glass of champagne without issue. It's not my usual drink, but it's better than nothing. I would prefer if I had a light buzz before whatever was going to go down, went down.

As I was taking another sip of the drink in my hand, I was startled by the sudden callout of my name.

"Well if it isn't Alexandria Ainsworth! The comeback story of the decade!" I turn to the side upon hearing my name, to see a middle-aged caucasian man dressed in an expensive but flashy suit walk towards me. Great…of all the people I had to be approached by, it was this asshole.

Be cordial. Do not embarrass yourself. Do not endanger your interests.

Again one of those faded headaches. I really really need to visit that neurologist.

I put on a fake smile before holding out my hand to the approaching man, "Mr Davenport. It's a pleasure to see you again."

D̯̿ǒ̤̰̦̰̔̋̍n͆͜'͓̂ṱ͑ sṷ̭̯̍̔̋̄͟c͈̬̟̏̋͡k̬̗̫̪̐͂̏͝ ̨̝̽͋u͚̣̜͒̀͘p͖̤̣̜̆͆̕̚ ̹̫̒͊ṫ̨̥͍̎͠o̺̽ ̧͖͌̅t̨̠̜́̇̂̈͜h̪͇̫̤͕́̔͊̆͞i̥͖̱͐̏̃́͢ș̡͔̗̟̐̓͊͌̒ ͍͎̃͛c̮̪̎͂u̢̓̚͢ņt̢̛͓͔͇͒̊͑

Something was different…it wasn't like those headaches from before…this was…

I'm shaken from my thoughts as a grin forms on his face as he takes the hand with glee, "Aww, I'm flattered you remember me! Been ages since I talked with you…" He pauses for a moment as he notices me clutching my head in pain. Of all the times for the headache to get this bad.

He himself gathers his thoughts before eventually saying, "At this point in the conversation, I would be asking how you've been…But anyone who knows anything would realize that you have been charging up to the top the last few weeks! Ainsworth Incorporated is the new big thing right now." He chuckles with a strange and smarmy tone.

I didn't like the guy at all. He was from one of the richest families in the city, but he was a rich-kid through and through. He is pretty much just Bruce Wayne but worse…Decadent lifestyle or models, yachts, parties and wasting money as if it grew on trees. Unlike Wayne, who actually worked at his company at least, Davenport doesn't do shit other than socializing on occasion. In any other circumstance, I would tell him to fuck off, but the issue was that Davenport owned one of the largest real estate businesses on the eastern seaboard.

It means that I have to play nice.

I cough into my hand before slowly beginning, "Well, as much as I've had good luck, it's still in the early phases. The restoration of canneries, factories and ports are still ongoing and employees are still being hired…but we are in the black at least. I'm also working on getting a railway connection going so we don't have to rely on trucks as much… You know…the work still isn't done and I could certainly use some help in getting further properties in the rest of Gotham and maybe even Bludhaven." As I mentioned, he was big in real estate.

The smile on his face was only growing but an uncertain glint in his eyes could also be seen, "Well! I would love to help. I'm not too well versed in the little particularities, but my assistant could certainly help out! Just tell them good old James sent you!" He quickly hands me a business card which I throw into one of my suit pockets. I made sure to keep the holstered weapon out of sight.

He then proceeds to talk about a few random things. He also happens to be one of those people who love to gossip. Once again, that is the kind person I wish to avoid, but in this situation it's rather useful. Knowing who is who, is sadly very important.

As we continue talking I notice some commotion towards the entrance. A scruffy-looking blonde man wearing a trenchcoat was arguing with a venue staff member. I don't know who it is, but I can just… sense that he spells trouble. I directed Mr Davenport's attention towards him so he could hopefully provide some context as to what was happening.

He only shook his head saying he had no idea who it was either. As a few other socialites approach us, and it becomes clear that they are here to talk with Davenport, I kindly take my leave.

I move back towards the bar and close my eyes as I focus on the sounds around me. As my concentration grows , all the nearby noises and conversation fade from my perception.

"Listen mate, I belong here! Now let me pull out my bloody invitation or your bollocks will get acquainted with my shoe!" A British accent threatens.

"Sir, I have checked the list twice now, there is no mention of anyone called John Constantine. I will have to ask you to leave again before I am forced to call the police."

I can hear the rustling of paper and the… slow humming of a magic spell being prepared as the man in question says "That won't be bloody necessary… Just take a look at the invitation okay?"

Based on the context and the strange magic signature, I could tell that the staff member just got brainwashed. For now, I can at least guess that this guy wasn't after me or is part of whatever has brainwashed at least 60% of the guests here.

I drop my focus from the man in question and start listening through the building. The place was mostly filled with humans, a few dogs outside and one interesting being I couldn't quite recognise. It was humanoid with feminine shape and would in any other case be viewed as a normal person. If only it wasn't for the giant horns poking out of her head.

It's harder than before, but I am able to pick up some words being spoken.

"… Everything ready?… Can't afford… Do not fail"

The words are muffled and I can barely make out sentences

"Of course master… Souls will be… Need to wait…"

…And I think that's all I need to hear.

I limit my hearing once more in order to not to be deafened and pondered the things I just learned. Deciding on my course of action, I quickly down my drink and started heading towards a side door. I cannot afford to get involved with whatever was going on here.

The right choice. Their lives are of no concern.

I've been here often enough, and going through one corridor behind the main room should take me to the garden which has its own entrance for staff. It should allow me to leave without issue.

I hastily opened and closed the door behind me while making sure no one was looking in my general direction. I start moving through the corridor but promptly freeze when I catch sight of the same blonde man who had hypnotized his way in here.

I caught him gulping down a drink from a flask before he hastily put it away to look at me. His face didn't reveal if he knew me or anything, but his eyes widened after staring at me for a bit, "What's this? Another mage pokin about? And here I thought this was supposed to be an exclusive demon ritual…"

Slowing in response, I try to move around him as he continues staring at me with a flabbergasted expression, "Are you seriously trying to just walk past me?"

I pause, "...Yeeees?" I say as I continue walking.

He lets out a breath he had been holding, "Blimey…Thought we were gonna fight. I was getting ready and everything"

I simply shrug in response, "Yeah, I kinda tend to avoid things like this, so I'm getting the fuck out of here before they start sacrificing people."

I try to move past and head to the door before it is suddenly engulfed in flame. I turn around with annoyance as I glare at him. "You seriously gonna walk out of this just like that?"

I displaced the space between us and cut off his magic from the burning fire, "Yes actually. I got invited here to supposedly talk business with a bunch of fatcats, not become demon food."

I went to open the door but quickly saw that the handle was glowing with heat. "While you wait for that to cool off, why not help me out for a bit. Because if you think about it, the fact that you got invited to this technically means that you were targeted…What's to say that they won't come after you if I don't make it here?..."

I ponder his words for less than a second and nearly dismiss the idea as a sudden shudder echoes through my body.

Ś͍t̟̭̭̄̌̈́á̹̯͍̪̀͐͘n̮̖̠͕̐̄̌̂̑͟d̯͡ ̫͎̄̅à̫̯̈́͜͞n̡̤͉͋̂̉d ̥͎̆̚f̡͓̘͙̽̑͆̊i̢̺͇̳̓̍̿̉g̞͓̀͠h̯̩͐̆t̜̾́͟

I drop to a crouch as my head spikes with more pain. I could feel the erratic rhythm of my heart as it beat in my chest.

"Oi, you doing ok?"

The pain fades as suddenly as it came. Looking back up, I see his hand outstretched to pull me up. I reluctantly take it as I pull myself up. I stare him in the face with an expression of annoyance, "Fine. I won't pretend I'm an expert but I'm good in a fight… I'm holding you liable for the rest."

He lets out a quick chuckle, "Hah, that's how it usually goes…Anyway glad to have you on board. Name's John Constantine, accomplished warlock, expert of the occult and master of exorcism. Who do I have the pleasure of having before me?"

Wow…that was quite the introduction… Might as well give an answer, even if he won't like it, "The name's Alexandria… Alex if you want."

"No last name?" He asks as he beckons for me to follow him back through the corridor.

"Nope." I answer in turn as I fall in step.

He pauses for a second to look back at me and asks, "As in…you don't have a last name, you don't want to tell me your last name…or that you are the physical incarnation of the will and spirit of the city Alexandria?"

The surprise is evident on my face as I quickly clarify, "The second one…but the city incarnation, that's a thing?"

"As strange as it sounds… yeah." He shrugs as he begins walking again.

As we round another corner, I ask him "Any notable examples?"

He pauses in front of a door to draw a small rune with chalk. "Well, I only know about 3 or so…I would have to say Los Angeles. That one's a right cunt. A double-crossing and demon dealing one at that…at least she was a good lay at the very least."

I almost lagged behind after that comment. He opened the door and the rune showed its use as the action was completely silent. As we pass into another room without anyone else in it "Ignoring the fact that you slept with a collective incarnation of an entire city….Do you know if Gotham has one?"

My curiosity was quite clear and he couldn't help but shudder as he thought of it, "If this place does, they probably should be in Arkham…Honestly, it's a scary thought."...He pauses for a sec before coughing in his hand, "Anyway, the next room is definitely guarded so we should probably have a plan. What can you do? Would help if we can cover each other's weaknesses on this. Got a dainty wand tucked in that suit? Any fancy spells?"

With a small smile I quickly sum it up, "I can fuck with dimensions, hit fairly hard… and I also have a gun." I quickly pull out the handgun tucked into my jacket.

"...You sure you're a mage?.." Is his only reply as I turn off the safety and head over to the next door with a nod and a grin.

As my hand touches the handle, he quickly rushes to my side, "Ok hold on a sec…I guess you'll be offensive while I focus on support then? Also, I don't think a gun is that good an idea unless we want everyone to know that the two of us are mucking about. "

I hold up the weapon and direct his attention to some shimmering runes engraved on the barrel, "These displace and spread out the sound of the exploding bullet not too dissimilar to a suppressor. It ain't much, but it works…You know what kind of demon is behind this?"

"I ain't even sure if a demon is behind all this luv. I came to Gotham to get supplies and I caught sight of some of the possessed. Didn't exactly bother doing any detective work…and why are you so sure it's a demon?"

"Stereotypes really. I sensed an entity with a rotten and inhuman essence that also happens to have two giant horns sticking out of their head." I quickly answer him as I rip open the door and rush inside with my limbs already reinforced and my perception increased by thought acceleration.

Two armed men turn to look at me, but cannot raise their own weapons in time as bullets tear through their heads. They fall to the ground as blood starts pooling beneath them.

Constantine stares at the scene in surprise before saying, "Blimey, that was quick…At least you don't mind getting your hands a bit dirty. Always an issue stepping on the Bat's toes here in Gotham, but this situation calls for a bit of urgency. The Bat can cry about it after these people are safe….On another note, I only saw you aim at the one guy. How'd the bullet go into the other one?"

"Told you. I can fuck with dimensions." I quickly retort as I move towards the bodies.

"Usually when I hear that, I assume world travel and plane walking, not actual spatial manipulation…When we are done with this, I want to talk about what kind of mage you are over a few drinks. Because you are definitely doing it wrong." he adds with a chuckle.

I let off a small snicker in response as I reach one of the bodies and put my hand on its forehead before casting structural analysis. The results just leave me curious. There was definitely some kind of possession going on, but it wasn't a worm or a tentacle…it was as if a few drops of blood had grown sentient and were manipulating their brains.

I tell Constantine of my findings and he scoffs in annoyance, "Blood magic, always a pain to deal with…and it means this might be the work of an old sorcerer. Haven't heard of any in Gotham for a while, so it's probably a major demon instead. It won't be one of the minor ones, they tend to be dumb as bricks…They are either directly in charge or working with a novice spellcaster in some form of deal or partnership."

I nod in understanding before taking one of the corpse's guns. It was a submachine gun of sorts. Should do some good against the possessed. Don't know if the demon is bulletproof, but it can't hurt to try. I sling the weapon across my shoulder before readying my pistol again. We still want to be stealthy for now after all.

"I do want to point out that those men weren't completely gone or unsavable…I don't mind you being ready to kill, but you were quick enough that you could have shot them in non-vital regions as well... Keep the slaughter to a minimum, will you?" He asks as he looks towards me with an unsure expression.

He was prodding my character and he grew visibly surprised as I gave him a genuine nod, "I will prioritise my own life over that of others… But as long as I don't have to, I will make an effort to show restraint."

"Didn't expect that…anyway, we should continue. Got any sense of the next room?" He asks while pointing to the next door.

It should lead us to another corridor. I move my ear to the door and focus on the space behind it.

"About 6 armed guards, all guarding a door at the end of the corridor. Think this is what you would call a bottleneck…anyway, another person and the horned creature are in the one behind it..and I think a few more guards. I think it leads to the backstage of the main hall with all the guests….We should probably handle that sooner than later…Can you stun the guards?" I ask him as I rest my hand on the other handle while swapping out for the smg. I doubt that the perpetrators won't notice the next batch of guards suddenly being taken out so I may as well go loud.

"Leave it to me lass." He says as he pulls out a bottle of lighter fluid from his trenchcoat and douses his hands with it. "Make sure to cover your eyes ok?" He says as he prompts me to open the door for him. I do as asked and rip the door open as I trigger my thought acceleration once more.

He walks into the hallway in full view of the guards and I see his hands catch flame which is quickly turning a bright light. I close my eyes at the right moment and even then am blinded a bit by the light shining through my eyelids.

It does as required though, as I open my eyes once more to see all of the guards holding their faces while grunting in pain.

My perception is still accelerated as I rush past Constantine and take aim at the men before us. I shoot in single bursts rather than continuous fire and am able to hit the arms and shoulders of about four men. They quickly fall in front of the others making it impossible to get a clear shot.

I instead rush towards the group with my limbs still reinforced and club the ones I didn't shoot with the stock of the smg. Some teeth are knocked out, some jaws are broken but no lives are lost.

"Once again. Would love to meet more mages like you.… it's very refreshing to see a fellow magic-user knock someone out with a good one-two." Constantine mutters as I make sure all the guards are knocked out before nearing the next and final door.

I check the mag of the smg before holding the weapon at the ready once more. I look back to Constantine standing next to me, who was yet preparing his own magic. I give him a small smirk as I quickly say, "I don't think I ever claimed to be a mage actually. I technically come from a family of alchemists."

"...Ok, I'm just going to put a pin in this subject till later before I get a headache. This is why I avoid Gotham…well that and Batman but let's ignore that…right now we should focus on finishing th-" His words are cut off by the door suddenly opening on its own.

Both of us take a quick step back in response as nothing but darkness is visible within the doorway. I held my aim steady in preparation of whatever might be going on while John let out a small sigh before taking a step forward.

"Might as well spring whatever trap they prepped. I happen to be quite good at those kinds of things…Won't blame you if you turn away here." He states as he enters the darkness.

I strongly consider leaving him right now and right here. I barely knew him… and I don't owe him anything. No one could fault me for leaving him to whatever he got himself into….

.

Y̶͍̲̐͜ơ̵̧̫̰͕̊̓u̴̯̦̤̘̬͇̠̙̥͈̎͂̈́̕ ̵̢̗̭̩͇̮̠̝̖͉͗̈́̔̐͛̋͠ą̸̧̛͖̜̞̮͕̲̙̥͓̄͐̀̆̋̓̿͗̚r̶̨͖̗̰͔͈̙̣̦͖̖̜̳̓̈́̿̌̐̑͂͒͛͆̿ẽ̵̛̥̮̆̈́̓̐̀̑̓̈͗̋̔̎̔̕ ̷̨̢̝̻̰̩̳͍̂n̴͙͓̹͌͆̊̂̍̈́̃̓͐o̷͎̙͎͎̼̤͎͖̩͗͜ͅt̷̟͕̟̠̠͔͈̍ ̵̥̫̫̤͈̌̄̿̂̀̆͗͐̓͘͠͝ȃ̴̟̟̼̼̯̜͙̖̗̗̟́̊̆͗̀͝f̴̧̨̜̙̳̦͈͔̬̈́̽̇ŗ̴̥̖͚͉͚͔͉̯̳͂̉̑̓̈́ȁ̴̡̹̞͇̯̰̼̮̯̃͒̆̽̾̿͗̔̕ī̸̡̛͔̝̪̯̯͉͒̀͆͑̄̀͆̿͛͐͆͒̀d̷̢̡̪̹͔͍̫͓̳͎̻̩̪̯̺̒͂̐͆̇̑̇̑̕̚

Y̶͍̿o̷̩͌̀ͅū̵̹̬̍̐ ̶̠̃͊̎p̶̮͚̦̾̔͠r̵̯͠o̷͈͑͝͝m̸̘̬̘͘i̵͈̙͎͆̽̕s̷̼̒̉̽e̷̦̘̱͑͌̚d̵̯͆̊ ̷͉̺̽t̶͔̙̍̽o̶̧̘̞͆ ̷̹́ḩ̸͗ă̴̠̳͓v̷̟́e̷͇͂̓ ̷̘͝ẖ̷̻̍̎̽ȉ̵̞̞̈́̄͜s̵̢͖̣͋̌͂ ̷̱͎̺̏b̸̩͐̑̃ą̵̱̒̋c̴̟̓̓̆k̸̙͈͖͝

F̷̹͚̈I̵̗̿Ḡ̷͇̠̏H̸͈͕̅T̴̯̹̈

There comes that headache again. It's shorter than before, but I felt like blacking out this time. As I focus on my surroundings, I notice that I couldn't see Constantine anymore…Fuck's sake.

Throwing caution to the wind, I run ahead into the darkness with my weapon drawn and…

As my senses adjust to the darkness around us, I narrowly perceive tentacles of some sort racing towards my body. Even with my thought acceleration, I'm only able to narrowly dodge half a dozen of them. A few snag my arm and torso and begin bloating up to constrict my movement. Turning back, I see the door shut in an instant, engulfing me in complete darkness.

I continue moving and use displacement on the tentacles that are actually more akin to slimes really. The issue is that every time I teleport one away from my body, bits and pieces still remain that quickly reconnect and regenerate…

I'm being covered by more and more. My reinforced limbs only helped a bit at the beginning, but these things were able to account for that. They were grabbing my neck and reaching my face. I clench my jaw and they don't seem to be trying to get in…But they continue bloating up and are covering half of my head now.

I fall to the ground and struggle as I try to move before eventually giving up. I'm having trouble breathing, and it will only get worse…

…Constantine better get me out of this, because I will haunt his ass for eternity if I die here.

9:50 PM

Fox Gardens, Crest hill

John Constantine

A dark room is suddenly illuminated and a mass of red slime constructs was now clear to see. With a groggy cough, Constantine slowly blinks to clear up his vision. Slowly taking in his surroundings, he notices the fact that the tentacles of slime restraining him were also a product of blood magic. He was glad he knew a spell to clean his coat for when this whole ordeal was behind him.

Looking past the slimy creature, he also notices the girl he met earlier restrained as well. The Tentacles were a bit more extensive with her and rather than being held by individual tentacles, she was swallowed from mouth to toe by the slimy blob. She was barely able to breathe through her nose and was currently giving John the angriest glare at which he can only give a smug shrug in response.

"Now to be fair…I did say you could leave Luv." as expected, he gets a series of muffled grumbles and huffs in response.

He can't help but chuckle, "Now don't worry too much. I'll get us out of this in no time. Just got to deal with whoever decided they could take a gander out of hell for a pint before I kicked their teeth in."

"Always a comedian Constantine. Even in the face of certain death" a feminine voice echoes out.

The blonde man finally looks at the two people responsible for this mess.

Behind his assailants and filling the room were countless strung up bodies, their blood staining the ground. Blood magicians tended to usually want a fresh supply.

He focuses on the demon and its summoner. One was an elderly man dressed as a priest…Even though he calls himself a deacon. He's wearing a new face, but John could tell who he was….And the other one was…a nun with giant horns poking through her headdress…but her presence was…

"HAH! You have got to be bloody shitting me!" He couldn't help but laugh.

"Deacon Blackfire here is expected. It's Gotham and he hasn't made a peep in at least half a year even though he finally got out of hell. Him summoning a demon is expected but to think he would get a major one like you. Ain't that the surprise, ey Asteroth?"

The woman's face quickly formed into a sneer. She was irritated but not quite angered. Constantine will see to change that

"How's the feeling of losing your bollocks you old twat? Blackfire really fucked you over there didn't he!" He continued laughing before the tentacles tightened their grip, prompting him to focus on the two again. Blackfire looked ready to start begging for forgiveness, something Constantine expected him to have done quite a few times already.

Asteroth, using the body of the nun said, "Blackfire's failure in procuring an adequate sacrifice was…aggravating but not something of consequence. This body's latent potential made it suitable enough to be my vessel. With it and the sacrifices being prepared tonight, we will be able to take over this city and will then take this world!."

Constantine lets off a chuckle once more. He won't bother counting how often he has heard some demon, ghost, or mage say something along those lines.

"Now now As. That just sounds like a coping mechanism. I guess that pair hanging from your chest wasn't quite what you were hoping for, perhaps you should take a seat? You seem to be carrying one around with you as well."

Veins were threatening to pop on Asteroth's face as he lifted the body's arm to command the blood slime. The makeshift familiar tightened around his body and was now coiling around his neck in order to restrict airflow.

He didn't focus on his new predicament though. He had been watching Astaroth and noticed something very interesting. Astaroth's body had been subtly twitching and showing small spasms during that series of motions.

It meant that the body and its true owner were fighting the demon's control. This had potential for dealing with the old demon in a more permanent fashion than just sending him back to hell. For now, Constantine would have to wait a bit more for his little friend to come through. He just hoped that he stalled enough…Though he probably shouldn't have been that cheeky, because he can slowly feel the slime begin to irritate his skin. Was it turning acidic?...it seems that he really was losing this coat after all.

The demon couldn't help but laugh at John's newest predicament, "I won't kill you John. Your soul is far more trouble than it is worth, but it doesn't mean you won't wish for death. I will rend the flesh from your body, break your bones and burn through your very nerves!"

The silence is suddenly broken by a small pop going resounding in the room. One moment Constantine was being burned in the slime, another he was suddenly falling to the ground just outside of it.

It quickly became clear based on Constantine's face that he didn't get out of his predicament on his own, but rather by the hand of somebody else. The sensation of magic being used was prevalent in the room though and after disregarding the presence of Astaroth, it became clear that the girl who came with John was responsible.

John, not wanting to waste this opportunity, cast a quick spell that would shroud his presence along with a similar stunning spell he had used earlier. He quickly fled the room and ran past all the guards as he was trying to contact his only other ally here right now.

He would be back for Alex…He just hoped that she would survive for a minute or two.

10:02 PM

Fox Gardens, Crest hill

Alexandria Ainsworth

Constantine….he….he…his….this Motherfucker….he actually ditched me.

Any feelings of hope quickly faded when the effects of his stunning spell wore off and I still found myself stuck in the slime with no changes…well no. The slime was tightening again.

"Looks like someone was biting off more than they could chew." The demon said as they approached the slime.

"I don't know who you are, but that was magic I have never seen before…why don't you share it with me."

The slime shuddered as smaller tentacles suddenly formed near my face. Any panic or fear didn't even have time to properly form before the damn tentacles forced themself into my nose and mouth. The sensation was one of the vilest things I ever felt and it only grew worse as the tentacles forced their way inside of me. It was also seeping into my tissue and spreading around…what was it doing to me?

"What's this? Your mind is surprisingly active…It's as if you aren't quite alone in there."

I could hear shuffling footsteps as the demon approached me. They grabbed hold of my face as the slime parted for her, even though the tentacles continued to violate me.

"Your mind is holding secrets and I want to see them. Are you being possessed? Is someone scrying through your eyes?"

The tentacles reach my stomach and my brain…the sensation is turning to pain. I can't…breathe

I̴̛͓̕/̷̨̿̇Y̵̞͌̓o̶̝̎̑u̴̢͇̓/̷͙͠W̵̰̜̎͝e̵̺̊ ̴̧̢́n̶̥͗͆e̸̖̞̚ẻ̸̹̻d̷̯̉͐ ̶͕̯̒̈́t̷͔̋͘o̸̧̓̾ ̵̈́ͅf̷͉̲̅̒i̸̗͉̾ḡ̷̥͖h̷̦͚̿̉ẗ̵̮́

"Show them to me!"

The pain grew in intensity. The slime was pulling at my insides.

I̸t̸'̸s̴ ̵t̶i̸m̸e̴ ̴t̸o̷ ̶k̴i̴l̷l̶

"Reveal yourself to me!"

Unleash it all

Like a bolt of lightning, pain shot through my body. I grit my teeth to such a degree that they could crack from the pressure. It didn't let up. The pain…it was boiling throughout my body, like rage. The toxic feeling in one's stomach of anger and hatred…these emotions were washing over my entire being.

When I stopped clenching my eyes, the sight in front of me was quite a surprise. Most of the slime had been burnt to a crisp with the rest retreating to its master. .. red lighting was whizzing through its charred remains and the area around me.

Looking down at my feet and hands, I see streaks of lightning touching my body but I am not damaged from it at all. Actually, looking at it now, with my body cleared of the slime and only a red tainted and charred suit remaining, I realize that streaks of the lightning were racing through my body as well…

Almost as if it came from me...

My vision was swimming. My eyes were tearing up and only blurry shapes were visible now. I had used up too much mana and my body was screaming at me. I felt like I was about to blackout…But I can't, not yet.

The lightning…it was part of me. Part of a rage…a hatred that I didn't have…But it was still mine…

I raise my hand and with trembling fingers try to direct what little mana I had towards the deacon and his demon.

An explosion echoes out, and the carpeted floor is scorched around the place the two had been standing. Small fires were starting around the room and as the dust finally settled, my heart sank in despair as I realized that the two were still standing. The demon was no worse for wear, a bit of damage to their clothing at best. The Deacon lost an arm…at least I had some victory…

But I was spent now….and collapsed to the floor without any grace.

My eyes closed and I could barely hear around me…Footsteps were nearing…and the regenerating remains of the slime also moved closer…Fuck, was this it?

"As much as I hate the trope of last-second rescues, I do love it when I manage to do em!"

A loud blast suddenly reverberates around me before a gut-wrenching screech fills my fading perception.

"Constantine!"

I guess I could leave the rest to him…and…rest for a bit.

10:06 PM

Fox Gardens, Crest hill

John Constantine

He will admit, the girl was just full of surprises. He had already put her in the "Weird things to investigate later" part of his mind, but after this, she is definitely going up a rank or two.

When he was sneaking back in through the rafters of the room after escaping any detection, he thought he would see her tortured to his regret. He was expecting to have to down a few bottles of scotch tonight cause he got a kid killed.

Instead, she pulled out dragon lighting of all things and fried the fuckers. He noticed that while effective, it definitely took the air out of her. She was done and could barely keep herself standing.

Looking down to his side, his annoying companion was standing with a detonator on hand that was a bit too big for his small hands. With that, Constantine prepares his arrangement of spells and looks back towards Alexandria who collapsed to the floor and was about to fall unconscious. He drops down from the rafters.

"As much as I hate the trope of last-second rescues, I do love it when I manage to do em!"

His hands light up with flames and he chucks a rather large ball of fire at the two. Blackfire got decently singed but Asteroth blocked most of the damage with his own magic. The flames were dispersed around the entire room as Constantine landed on the floor.

The smirk on his face couldn't be wider as the demon yelled out his name.

The blood slime had reformed and was now racing towards him again. Asteroth himself was summoning blood spears from the bodies nearby.

It was all in vain though. The flames that were now neatly dispersed into the room were turning to smoke heading towards the ceiling…Which then promptly triggered the fire alarm.

That should evacuate anyone present who hasn't had their souls sucked out yet..But the real ace up Constantine's sleeve came in the form of the sprinkler system.

As it activated and water began spraying on the ground below, John could only laugh as the slime began to melt and Asmteroth was tearing at their skin.

"Might wanna call the city works. It seems you have a little Holy water problem! You know, once you find an intruder, you should always make sure that you got them all. One can never know what or who might slip through the cracks."

He pointed up to the rafters which revealed a small goblin-like creature dressed up as him. Same coat, same shirt and same tie as well as a similar hairstyle. It was undoubtedly an inner demon manifested from Constantine's own psyche. It was sniggering as it saw the chaos below and was fiddling with the detonator in his hands. "Kept this bugger after I offed Nergal over in Los Angeles. Thought he could keep me company. Surprisingly, he also tends to be quite useful here and there."

" I!,,Ighl Kielll Yuu" The demon screams out its pained gargles as Constantine approaches with more spells he had prepared. Blackfire, the spineless bastard had started running after the fireball and had completely fled the room and building soon as well.

It did not matter. Compared to Asteroth, he was a small fry of no importance. As long as John (or someone else) got him eventually, it would all work out.

John releases the first stage of his spell. A series of ethereal needles manifested around Constantine. He nodded towards the inner demon which suddenly triggers the detonator in its hands in response.

Asteroth had no time to react as a beeping from beneath their feet drew their attention. A sudden pop was audible from beneath the floorboards, and a greyish goo started foaming out of the carpeted floor. The expansion was much faster than expected and the demon was already knee-deep in the substance before they tried using magic to escape. To their dismay, it turned out to be completely ineffective. Even channelling demonic energy through the nun's body in order to break free proved ineffective. Punching and clawing at the substance proved a bad idea almost immediately as their body was nearly completely covered. further movement made it even harder to move.

"That, you old twat, is a fast-acting polymer adhesive I snatched from Batman a while back. Apparently, it's a countermeasure for speedsters, but it works just fine against anyone else as well…Oh right! I added my own little ingredients to the mixture as well. It sadly can't burn you to a smouldering crisp, but it will be immune to demonic magic…it's perfect for me to do the rest without you getting away."

The needles he had summoned spread around Asteroth in a circular pattern before slamming into the ground in order to form a runic pattern. Ethereal chains began to form and they began snaking towards the demon's still exposed limbs.

"Constantine! If you banish me here after I got so close…I will stop at nothing to torture you for this. I will be back and I will destroy your very mind. Anyone you love, anyone who was ever kin-" Asteroth is suddenly shut up by another chain slamming against their face and shackles slamming shut around their head.

"Oh bugger off. I've heard that monologue hundreds of times and I know how to handle it properly by now. You are a fool if you think I'm just going to let you go scot-free to hell. No no no, you are staying right here." The chains continue snaking and restraining around the demon as the runic circle flashes in different colours.

"You see, instead I'm going to make a prisoner in that body you decided to possess. You see, realistically, you should have floored us as soon as we came in and I was wondering why you weren't. 'Why did you need to rely on external blood' and so on...Until I figured it out. That woman you decided to possess has been struggling against you this entire time and she has been effective…So why not give her the keys to the car for a bit?"

Asteroth screams under his restraints and thrashes in a desperate attempt to escape. The magical spell was growing in power as Constantine started chanting.

The man couldn't help but smile. He had won after all.

01:02 AM

Noonan's bar, The Cauldron

Alexandria Ainsworth

With a shot of pain racing through my body, I rip open my eyes and see an unfamiliar ceiling. Turning to the side, I see a small bedside table with a dim lamp standing on top of it.

My glasses were lying on top of it as well. Right, I had run out of magic and I probably wouldn't be able to reinforce my eyes for now. I also guess that someone snooped through my belongings to put them there.

Snatching the glasses and quickly putting them on made me see my surroundings a bit better. The room I was in was old and incredibly cramped. Like a storage closet basically. Still, there was enough room for the single bed I was laying in.

Moving out from beneath the blanket, I quickly see that some of my injuries have been bandaged up. I was also wearing a shirt that was definitely oversized for me…the pants weren't much better….A blush snuck up on my face as I realized that I wasn't wearing a bra either…

I clear my thoughts and quickly focus on the last thing I remember. Constantine's voice after I passed out from using…that.

Just remembering it sends my mind into chaos. Bits of memories were now flooding my mind and emotions I never felt came with them…It was strange, unnatural…but it didn't feel intrusive. It didn't feel like something was forced into my mind but rather…that something hidden away was being unlocked. Like exploring the dusty basement of your mind you never knew you had…

Whatever these things were, I needed time to delve into them in peace…For now I had to check where I am first. Focusing on my hearing, I try to map out the place.

A few more rooms like this one were around me with a few people sleeping in them as well. I grow quite surprised when I sense the very same demon who me and Constantine had been fighting against…though something is different. The horns were gone but they were still… Their magic feels different. Still demonic at its core, but it was changed for some reason. It kinda reminded me of…of myself.

….WHAT

This means that something worse may have been done to me in my sleep than I initially thought. Quickly casting structural analysis on myself, I immediately found something unusual, but nothing wrong. My injuries were healing at a surprisingly fast rate actually, but my body seemed untouched otherwise...

That is…until I inspected the inside of my forearm. A strange runic array now adorned my flesh. It was demonic in nature but it didn't seem to be affecting me. It was definitely connected to…the demon…They were bound to me now?

With my other hand, I was about to inspect it when a sudden burst of magic appeared right next to me. I jump from the bed and get ready as I see a portal opening and a woman dressed in a skimpy pink nurse outfit step through.

She quickly catches sight of me with wide eyes before quickly saying, "You are up a bit early…But this is good. It means you are recovering well. How are you feeling?"

She spoke with kindness in her voice even if I heard clear exasperation. I'm guessing she was quite exhausted. I slowly approach her before shyly holding out my hand. I wasn't in the right state of mind and her outfit was incredibly distracting…So that made things a bit difficult.

She slowly takes the hand after I say, "I'm Alexandria, Alex to some…Thank you for patching me up." I also guess that she was the one to undress me then. Better than it having been Constantine.

I received a small smile in return, "Don't worry about it kid. I wouldn't be called the nightmare nurse if I couldn't help out…My name is actually Asa though. "

Raising an eyebrow in response I wanted to ask but decided against it when she shrugged and let out a sigh, "Pleasantries aside…Because there aren't any left, we should talk about that mark on your hand."

I hold out the mark in response and look at it once more, "What is it? Why…Why am I bound to that demon now?"

The nurse pinches the bridge of her nose, "Because that British bastard decided to fuck you over and didn't even bother asking you on it."

Right, Constantine did something, but I still don't understand why. "Why didn't Constantine just banish the demon instead? Or kill it for that matter?"

She shakes her head. "Too powerful to kill and banishing him would have worked… but to Constantine, that wasn't a long term solution. So he bound the nun's body with the demon and put her in charge of it. But rather than having her mind be the anchor of the spell, something else was considered. Maintaining this spell would be quite a risk as she could undo it if she desired…Or if the demon corrupted her mind enough…So Constantine used you for that instead."

My eyes widen in response and I quickly look towards the mark on my arm. Looking back at the woman, I see her quickly grab onto my shoulders as she says, "Now before you get any bad ideas, do know that it isn't that bad. The Asteroth can in no way affect your mind. Heck, I'm barely sure that he can affect that nun's mind either. Her mental fortitude is kinda impressive….But…right."

She quickly gathers her thoughts once more before continuing. "You are essentially the jailer and warden in this contract. You hold the keys and you can restrain them when you need to…Having a second person have this power would ensure that the first one isn't solely responsible when it comes to containing the being inside them…We learned from our mistakes when it came to Trigon…"

She muttered under her breath and I was unsure if I was meant to even hear that.

"Anyway. Constantine basically fucked you over here cause this was sorta foisted on you…"

I ponder the things she said before eventually asking, "I mean…this is surely temporary right? Can't we just transfer the contract to someone…someone who can actually take care of her?"

She shakes her head with a sad look on her, "He also kinda….busted up the key in this analogy"

My eyes widened due to the fact that I very much do not know the implications of this, "What is that supposed to mean?"

She lets out a small sigh before complaining, "It means that John is a shoddy magician…He's a jack of all trades really. He's decent in every magic but he isn't a master in any of them…and the contract he made for you was too complex for his skills…It's bound to you until you die…"

The information sinks into my mind and I can't help but grit my teeth in response. Realistically, this deal isn't too bad…it's just to make sure that this person stays alive and make sure she doesn't do anything wrong and…make sure not to let the demon out.

Al̸w̴a̸y̸s̴ ̶w̵a̶n̶t̶e̷d̸ ̸a̴ ̴p̸e̴t̵

…What was that…that wasn't my thought…or was it? I'm not sure. It felt the same, but there is something different…I can't say what…what it is exactly.

"Yeah, shit's a bit fucked and…Take it to Constantine really…He's in the bar talking to Baytor…he's the Bartender and he allowed us to treat you here…So try not to be rude." Asa says as she goes for the door.

I put on a pair of shoes lying on the floor and made myself as decent as possible. "You hang out with Constantine too much. I tend to not be rude to people I just met." She laughs in response and as she goes to leave, I quickly grab hold of her wrist.

She stares back with a startled expression which quickly turns stern, "What is it, Alexandria?"

My own visage falters as I ask with an unsure tone, "Before you leave, I need to ask. Did you check my…my Soul? I just…this is unrelated to what happened tonight but I think you are the closest thing to an expert around."

She slowly realizes what I was asking and says, "Well, thank you for the flattery…But there was nothing wrong really. Your soul was a bit older than most and also has some "scarring". It's not something extreme, it just means that you died violently in a past life…Also means you went to hell but that shouldn't be a bother. It isn't for most people after all….But yeah. In terms of spiritual nature, I would give you a clean bill of health. Your magic doesn't make any sense to me, but I won't pry there obviously…Is that all?"

I slowly nod my head, prompting her to leave the room.

Considering what Astaroth said when he grabbed me with the bloodline, I thought that there might be something…there. But my soul is just as human as any other….Then what was happening to me?

My mind was breaking, it was subtle at first but those headaches have been affecting my behaviour…I think…And if it isn't mystical in nature…does that mean that it's…just me?

….

….

…..

Fuck this…I am not going there.

I was dressed and looked around the room before spotting the rest of my possessions in a wardrobe. There was a small bag containing whatever could be salvaged. My purse, gun, magazines and surprisingly, my dad's tie….huh, it was enchanted to avoid damage and stains….weird.

The rest of the suit was soaked in blood and charred to a crisp. Will have to buy myself a new one I guess. At least I can afford it.

With that all sorted, I head out of the room and into the corridor connecting to the rest of the floor. I avoid the demon for now as they are still sleeping…I should stop referring to her like that. The nun was now in control…Can't imagine what she is going through. It will definitely be hard for her to adjust to it all.

I move past the room and head towards the bar. Reaching the door, I quickly move through it to see Constantine chugging down a beer right in front of the…bartender?

I wanna say it's the bartender as they just topped up Constantine's drink and were busy cleaning glasses but it certainly wasn't the usual bartender. It was without a doubt a demon of sorts with a flexible head made entirely of a maw filled with teeth. It was kinda like a worm face or something but with human teeth…I don't know, but it definitely looked creepy.

The bartender in question catches sight of me and bends his neck in an unnatural angle as he takes a big breath of air. "I AM BAYTOR!" he quickly yells out, startling the fuck out of me.

I nearly tripped on the floor but am quickly able to right myself.

"Don't mind old Baytor here. He's got a few screws loose is all." Constantine says before taking another gulp from his drink.

As I approach, The demon once again yells out, "I AM BAYTOR." but with a more quiet tone.

With confusion clear on my face, I take a seat next to Constantine. Baytor quickly moves in front of me and stares at me with expecting….teeth?

"Ah...A whiskey... On the rocks please." I quickly stammer out.

"I am baytor." he says with a nod as he prepares my drink.

A small chuckle from my side draws my attention, "Don't take offence to him Luv. He's the demon lord of insanity…He also happened to have ruled hell for a bit… Now he's just a bartender in little old Gotham. Also he can only say, "I am Baytor" in that specific order and nothing less…Or he's just pretending. No idea."

Nodding in return, I receive the drink and quickly pay with some cash. As I look through my purse I hesitantly ask, "Constantine…did you-"

"Borrowed some for a pint and Asa. Don't worry, I'll pay you back when I'm back in town" He says as he takes another swig of his drink.

I take the first sip of my own drink before holding up my left hand and showing off my forearm, "I'm more concerned with this really. What the actual fuck were you thinking Constantine?"

He scoffed as he looked away and into his drink, "Ah, Asa told you then?..."

he pauses to take another sip before starting, "It was the best solution here. Can't send him back to hell cause he might come after not just me but you and your loved ones as well. Can't give the power to the woman herself cause she might be corrupted or lose the willpower to keep it up. This way, things are safer...And I'm sorry I messed it up, but I don't regret the way I handled this.." he says while looking at me again with a stern gaze.

These things were all true but he forgot something important. Something that pissed me off to no end, "I get your points…and I agree with them...but I have to ask then… why didn't you do it to yourself instead?"

He gripped his class harder as he mulled over what I had said. He takes quite a while before he actually answers, "I can't…I've got responsibilities myself. I fight things like this on a near-daily basis. If I take her with me, she won't live past a month…"

"Is that the truth? Big talk of responsibility but you are really just shunting it off towards me. Are you just incapable of protecting anyone around you?" I had been growing angry and I was showing it. Did he really think he could just dump all-

His glass suddenly cracked before he angrily stated, "Careful what you say, girl. I know I screwed you over but I'm not letting you get away with talkin whatever shit you want"

I quickly backed down after that…I probably hit a nerve there…he wouldn't have reacted that well if it wasn't true to some degree….

Fucking hell, This is pointless isn't it? Nothing can be done about this whole situation now and as much as I want to turn his face into paste... He is also my first proper magical contact. I shouldn't try to alienate him until I actually know others...I have to make do with what I have.

Looking up at Baytor, I quickly ask him for a pen and paper. He nods and as he gets it, I slowly question Constantine, "Did everyone at the Fox Gardens get out ok?"

He takes another swig of his drink before giving a slow nod, "Yeah…Possession didn't leave any nasty after-effects and everyone seems to have gotten away without a scratch. No casualties. I'll tell Batman a little report of it when he inevitably catches wind of what happened."

Fuck…Are you actually shitting me? This fucker is involved with batman and maybe even the league? Seriously?...fuck, this just got complicated. I knew of Zatara and Dr Fate, but those guys don't really deal with the gritty demons and occult rituals. Zatara doesn't because he is badly suited against them and Dr Fate doesn't because he doesn't care about what he would consider "Small" events.

So it makes sense that they have an expert on call…and while my opinion on Constantine is very…diverse right now, I can't deny that he got the job done.

Sitting up straight I quickly ask him, "About that…Could you not tell him I was involved?"

He looks over with an odd stare before saying, "Wanting to be omitted from Batman is not exactly a good character trait. Got something to hide?" He was making a joke of it. But I could tell that he was ready to throw me under the proverbial Bat Bus if he suspected something.

He eventually lets out a sigh, "Look, you went out of your way to help people. He won't approve of the killing, but he isn't going to harm you because of it."

I shake my head in response, "I… I've run into him before. I got involved in a villain's plot and managed to get the upper hand…Tried to kill them and Batman saved them at the last minute…There's bad blood between us and him knowing that I've killed someone else and also possess magic is just going to make things worse ..."

I get an exasperated sigh in return, "Yeah, that will do it… I'm rather partial on the whole "Killing villains or not" matter. I kill demons and no one bats an eye….And I know that old batsie can be a right cunt to mages living in Gotham….It's certainly effective as Gotham doesn't have anything happen when it comes to magical crime….What a dumb fuckin term…"

He pauses for a second before continuing, "Right. Batman hating mages. He doesn't harass them, but the constant surveillance was too much for some. A friend of mine, Jason Blood left a few years back because of it…"

"So you'll keep quiet?" I ask after his last sip emptied his glass. He gives me a nod in return, making me sigh in relief. I press the piece of paper in my hand into his own.

"My number….You might be a bastard…and kinda screwed me over, but you still saved my life…and endangered it…Anyway, you are a decent person underneath all…that….And i also need some magical contacts in and outside of Gotham. Also, Try something like that again and I will turn you inside out." My voice was deeply serious and it seemed like he got that point. I understood the reasons why he did what he did, but I wasn't even asked. That CANNOT happen again.

He eventually takes the paper and tucks it into his wallet before shoving it back into his coat. "I probably wouldn't have gotten by the slimes if you hadn't been there honestly. In all honesty, it seemed like a good idea at the time. And I couldn't think of any proper alternatives that would allow me to continue my work without issue...Anyway my opinion ain't worth much in most circles, But I am sorry…" He pauses while giving me a solemn look. It seemed like he wanted to say something else, but he eventually decided against it.

"Well then.. It's been a long night, and I need to talk with the grumpy caped crusader. See you around weird girl…and when I have some time, you will have to tell me how the hell you learned dragon lightning." He claps his hands together, does a small chant in Latin and vanishes in a yellow flash.

A small smile on my face forms in response. Mainly because I myself wasn't quite sure where the dragon lighting came from…I will have to do some research at home for the whole thing….These memories I was getting…they weren't fake and I know they are part of this.

I finish my drink and head back towards the rooms in the back to find my….Ward I guess? Prisoner didn't sound as good. And I don't plan on locking her up at least. Looking down at the mark on my forearm and channelling some mana into it made it clear more or less what it did.

I could summon the woman to myself, find her whenever I needed to, subject her to my will…and force her to undergo extreme pain or emotional distress. I guess that will do it…Will need to see how she has been coping.

I find her still asleep in her room. Her clothes were mended and she looked like a normal nun once more. The clothing still hugged her clothes a bit too tightly making her….quite distracting. Her face was also incredibly beautiful at that…

Right. I should focus one something else for now.

Reinforcing my limbs and spine, I promptly pick up the sleeping woman in a bridal carry and make sure she isn't too uncomfortable. After making sure I wouldn't lose my balance, I made my way back to the bar's entrance.

I give Baytor another look who is now holding up a sign which has "Called you a taxi" written in crayon scribbles. I give him a nod in thanks as I head to the door. He was now switching the channels on a tv hanging in the corner. I give him a last look and also turn back to the tv. Just as I wanted to turn away again, the program was being interrupted by an emergency broadcast. The sound wasn't on, but the scared face of the reporter made the significance obvious. As I read the headline, my mind comes to a screening halt…and my heart is filled with determination.

"Joker escaped from Arkham Asylum. DA attacked in his home"

I guess Christmas came a few days early.

New update. Been a while. Hope you guys enjoy.

Please review.