Dago finished the fourth sigil and turned off the tattoo gun. Carefully, after removing the latex gloves, he opened a small box on the nightstand. Constantine leaned forward in his chair, watching intently.

The German lifted a small vial, holding it between his forefinger and thumb, and held it to the light of the lamp. John could see the liquid, elemental mercury, shining like living silver, inside the glass vial. Carefully Dago set it on the stand then removed a roll of duct tape and a small bag.

Dago looked down at Elizabeth. "I vill be testing the mercury now."

"All right." She closed her eyes. John felt her fear through their mental bond. He rose from the chair, reaching down and taking her hand. She squeezed his back, hard.

"You don't have to do it. It's not required."

"I know." Elizabeth opened her eyes again and they watched Dago don a surgical mask.

"Vhen I say, hold jour breath." He instructed them. Twisting back to face his work, Dago now held the glass vial in his left hand. "A deep breath." He commanded. John gripped Elizabeth's hand and both took a deep breath, exhaled it out. "Now." Dago ordered. Constantine held his breath, feeling it lodge heavily in his lungs.

Dago opened the tiny vial and removed the lid, which was an eyedropper. Carefully, calculating every move he made, he sucked some of the liquid poison up into the bulb. Lowering his arm, he released a tiny drop onto the skin of Elizabeth's back then screwed the vial tightly closed.

Everyone held his or her breaths. If the test failed, her skin would absorb the mercury instantly. If it worked, it would bead on her skin. Constantine stared at the shining liquid, willing it not to poison his wife.

The mercury spread a bit, almost as if it were dissolving, then rejoined into a tiny bead.

Quickly, but with care, Dago opened the small bag. The smell of the power hit John's nose: sulfur. He felt his lungs begin to burn; they wanted fresh oxygen. The German dabbed a bit of the powder onto the duct tape and caught up the ball of mercury quickly. Wrapping the tape onto its self, he wrapped it up in paper towels then sealed it in a plastic bag.

Constantine and Elizabeth exhaled hard, pulling clean air into their aching lungs.

"Jou have trained properly." Dago gently clapped his hand on Elizabeth's bare shoulder. She smiled at him, at the same time releasing John's hand. The blood flooded back into his fingers. She had some grip. Quietly Constantine sat back in his chair, scooting it closer so he could keep his hand on the back of Elizabeth's leg, keeping skin to skin contact with her.

Dago removed the ink and mercury mix he'd already made up and set back to his work. Silently and swiftly, another hour went by.


All seven tattoos were finished. John surveyed his wife's back, the fresh wounds that were still bleeding a bit. He winced. Such a massive piece, separate images that made a whole. Elizabeth's breathing was labored, from the pain, but she said nothing.

Dago returned from the bathroom, drying his hands on a towel. "Ve need to get her up. They must be consecrated before jou go home."

"And how are you planning on doing this?" Constantine raised a brow.

"Up on the roof top. I have the ritual tools." Dago hefted a small suitcase from beside the bed. "Can jou get her up, Herr Constantine?"

John looked down at Elizabeth. Her eyes were closed tight and beads of sweat had formed on her temples. "She doesn't look well."

"I can handle it, John." She hissed softly through clenched teeth. "Help me up." Her hand reached out slowly, finding Constantine's and gripping tight. Moving to block Dago's view, John gently rolled her onto her side then to a sitting position. Slowly, holding her forearms, he got Elizabeth to her feet. She swayed a bit but remained standing.

"Perhaps jou could carry her, Herr Constantine?" Dago suggested quietly. He had shouldered the carry on and was watching.

"Just hold on." Constantine yanked the thin, cheap hotel room comforter off the bed and wrapped it around Elizabeth loosely, trying hard not to touch the fresh wounds. "She's not going to the roof naked."

"And when does me being naked bother you, John?" Elizabeth managed a pained smirk.

"When there's another male present." Constantine shot back. "Ok arms up." Slipping her arms tightly about John's neck, Elizabeth did her best to wrap her legs around John's waist as he lifted her up. "The things I do to get you to ride." Behind them, Dago smirked gently then cleared his throat.

"I vill go make sure the coast is clear." Opening the door, he stuck his head out before totally venturing into the hall.

"If anything, and I mean anything, feels off or you feel sick, you will tell me." Constantine growled in his wife's ear. He had a bad feeling about this. Elizabeth kissed his jaw line, just under his ear.

"Yes, husband."

"I'm serious, Elizabeth."

"So am I."

Dago peered around the doorway and nodded that everything was clear. Carefully but quickly, Constantine carried Elizabeth out into the hall and directly through the open doors of the elevator. Dago quickly stepped in after them and pressed the button for the top floor.