"We couldn't have taken a cab?" Elizabeth stepped off the Metro, looking back at John who followed.
"You said you rode the public transport all the time." He waited till the bus drove by and turned the corner before removing the shotgun from under his trench coat. They were standing across the street from the gigantic complex that was Our Father's Church, Andrew's base of operations. There were lights on in some of the windows, but John couldn't see any movement.
"Somebody's home." He cast out a few psychic lines to pick up vibrations. Yeah, something was in there. "Elizabeth, can you maybe try and get a lead on who's in there?"
"You want me to surf minds again?"
"More poke around and see who's thinking what." John checked the chamber of the gun and loaded a bullet.
"Looking for specific or?"
"Just trying to get a head count."
Elizabeth nodded and closed her eyes. "One… four… seven." She rocked on her feet a bit, eyes flying open, hand casting around to grab something before she fell over. Constantine caught her elbow and steadied her.
"What?"
"The song… it's gotten a lot worse. I'm pretty sure there's only seven, eight at the most in there."
"Just the singing is all you heard?"
"For seven of them."
John looked down at her. "Number eight?"
"I… I think there's eight." Constantine nodded, slowly letting go of her, making sure she was steady again.
"Whatever you do, stay behind me. Don't use the gun until I tell you; that goes for everything else as well. When you fire, aim for their heads or direct center of the chest. Mortal wounds work the best. The holy water… go for the face with that. Above all don't lose your ring; the Pope has blessed it. Any questions?"
"The Pope, huh."
John smiled wryly. "Indeed."
"So I stay quiet, do what I'm told."
"And you might get to live." John watched her for reaction. He saw her pupils dilate a bit, like she was looking far off into the distance at something only she could see. But it was so quick and she was back, refocused on him John brushed it off. "I won't lie to you, Elizabeth. The last big job… I lost my apprentice. An angel smashed him between the ceiling and the floor and snapped his spine. I lost the guy who did research and supplies for me. He was eaten from the inside out by flies. And on top of it, the son of Satan possessed the last woman I helped. Mammon tried to use her as a gateway to this reality. All because she and her twin were psychic."
"You have self-esteem issues, Constantine."
"Working with me isn't tip toeing through the tulips. I told you, I wouldn't lie to you." He stopped, staring down at her. The silence hung between them, as he felt the weight of his own words. Working with him was pretty much like signing your own death warrant and having the executioner the axe.
Then Elizabeth did something that made his heart race. She took his empty hand in hers; he felt the cool gold band touch his skin. "For better or worse, John. Till death do us part." He clasped her hand in his, squeezing tight.
Constantine kissed her then, a sweet loving kiss that was also a promise. "I will bring you out alive."
Still holding hands, they crossed the empty street towards the church.
