They set up in an abandoned warehouse. It was cold, dark, and dank, and perfect for not attracting any innocent bystanders. Constantine was holding Mary's hand tightly, not wanting her to think for any second that she was alone in this.
"I'm here," he whispered in her ear. They were already in the warehouse, and Angela had already taken her place, hiding in the shadows, where she and Constantine would wait while Mary called Raphael.
Mary looked up at him, eyes full of love. "I know," she whispered back. "You have the earplugs, right?" Constantine nodded. "Good."
Constantine tucked a piece of her unruly hair behind an ear. He kissed her gently, letting his actions speak for the words he had yet to say.
"You'll be fine," he said wrapping his arms around her. He let her go, leaving her feel suddenly cold.
"Put the earplugs in," Mary warned. "If I can really do this, I don't want you to be affected." Constantine nodded, touching her once more before he joined Angela.
"Is she ready?" Angela asked holding out the earplugs. They watched as Mary took a deep breath before opening her guitar case. She pulled out her black guitar, placing it in her lap and sitting on the cold floor.
"We'll see, won't we?" Constantine said as he put his earplugs in. "She can do it."
Come on, Mary, we're counting on you, he thought as he watched her. She took one more deep breath, closing her eyes, and then she began playing.
Even though he couldn't hear anything, Constantine was entranced by her nimble fingers dancing across the frets and strings of the guitar. He saw Mary's mouth start moving as she sang for Raphael. What she sang, he didn't know, but he didn't have to hear her voice to know that it was beautiful.
Mary sang for a while, even finishing her song, only to turn back to where Constantine and Angela were. "It's not working!" she called out.
Constantine pulled out his earplug. "Keep trying!" he yelled back.
Mary huffed, but did as she was told. She closed her eyes, letting her mind drift. She allowed her fingers to move on their own accord. She suddenly felt very light, as if she was floating. Her fingers kept moving over the guitar strings. I don't even know what I'm playing, she thought absently. Then she started to sing.
Mary knew that sirens could play any instrument and hypnotize even the strongest mind, but what she didn't know is that they also had the ability to lure unearthly beings to them. All they had to do was allow their mind to drift away, leaving their hands and voice to instinctively call for them. Of course, since Mary wasn't raised by a siren, she had no idea of what she could or could not do, and if she had known, she still wouldn't have believed it because she was only a quarter siren.
Regardless, Mary sang, calling Raphael to her, without even realizing what she was doing. She just sang and played her guitar, and was very surprised to see a white, glowing body in front of her when she opened her eyes.
"Oh," she muttered, staring unabashed at Raphael's appearance. He was completely dressed in white, his pale skin glowing with an unnatural light.
"Mary," he smiled. "You called?"
"Uh, y-yeah," Mary stuttered. "I suppose I did."
Raphael chuckled. "I was wondering when you would, I've been waiting for you."
"You have?" she squeaked.
"Yes," he conformed. He held out a hand. Mary hesitated before taking it, allowing him to help pull her up.
Come on, John, she thought desperately. Don't leave me here.
"You are mine," Raphael continued. "It was only a matter of time before you accepted it."
"I don't understand," Mary started, "How am I yours?"
He smiled. It was unnerving how beautiful he was. "You're a part of me, Mary. I reside in you."
Mary stilled. "H-how is that possible?"
Raphael chuckled again. "When you were a baby," he explained, "your mother brought you to me. She was so happy, Mary, so proud of you. But, you see Mary; she was planning on removing all your powers. She didn't want her daughter to be 'burdened' by a siren's…abilities. She asked me to remove them from you."
"You knew my mother?" Mary asked trembling.
"Yes, I did. And she was going to destroy your life, Mary, I had to protect you." Raphael caressed Mary's cheek gently. "So I killed her, and put some of my essence inside of you. That way, when you grew old enough, you'd come back to me. We'd be together, a family."
Mary felt her whole world crashing down around her. All her life, she had believed that her mother abandoned her, left her alone to live with her father and a funny uncle who raped her whenever he had the chance. To find out that this…thing had murdered her mother and then put himself inside of her was horrifying.
"No," she whispered. She slumped onto the floor. "No."
"Yes, Mary," Raphael said. "I know. It is a bit…difficult to take in all at once. Don't worry; it will all end well once we leave."
"I don't think so," Constantine said. His gun was pointed at Raphael's head.
"John," Mary muttered, wondering when he had got there and why the hell it took so long. She leaned her head against his leg.
"Hello, John," Raphael said, completely unnerved by the presence of the gun. "Why, I should've known you were here."
"Guess angels aren't as perceptive as they used to be," Constantine said dryly.
Raphael smiled. "Guess not," he agreed. "Still, I suggest you leave my Mary and me alone now. I believe I should thank you, though, John, for keeping her safe from all those demons. They were going to bring her to me, of course, but still, I know you could keep her safe better than anyone else." He laughed shortly. "Demons aren't known for keeping their word, are they?"
Constantine narrowed his eyes, waiting for Angela to make her move. "What about the Spear?" he asked, buying more time. Raphael laughed again.
"You mean this?" he asked holding out the Spear of Destiny. He threw it up and caught it. "I have no need for this, John; I just needed you to think that I did."
"You didn't need it?" Constantine asked. What the hell?
Raphael smiled. "No, John, I didn't." Without ever really moving at all, Raphael threw the Spear, piercing Constantine in the shoulder.
"FUCK!" Constantine yelled just as Mary yelled out, "JOHN!" He fell on the floor next to Mary. She scrambled to him just as Angela came out from behind Raphael and shooting him. Raphael hissed, turning his now frightening eyes on Angela.
"Oh my God," Mary cried with wide eyes. Constantine was writhing on the ground in pain, clutching his wounded shoulder. She pushed him down, grasping the Spear in her hand.
"I'm sorry," she said as she pulled it out. Constantine yelled and cursed. He pressed his hand against the wound, blood flowing freely from it. He looked at her in a silent, fleeting thanks, before rushing to Angela's aid.
Raphael had grabbed Angela around the throat. "That wasn't very nice, Angela," he said, tightening his hold on her neck. He held her up so high that her feet were dangling in the air. Constantine aimed his gun and shot, a rush of fire spewing from the gun's mouth. Raphael dropped Angela, screaming.
"My wing!" he cried. "You blew off my wing!" Constantine saw, with satisfaction, that he had, in fact, blown off his left wing, which was now a pile of ashes on the floor. Raphael's usual tranquil face was glowing with anger. He raised a hand, and an invisible force pushed Constantine against the wall, causing him to drop his gun.
"Shit," he muttered. Raphael sauntered up to him.
"John, John, John, look what you did," he taunted angrily. "I was going to let you go, but now, now that you shot off my wing, I'm afraid I can't allow that." He raised a hand. "Goodbye John," he said. Constantine closed his eyes, but the sound of Raphael's surprised yelp, he opened them.
Mary had jumped onto his back, squeezing his neck with all the strength she could muster. Constantine fell on the floor with a loud thud.
"Fuck," he said. Raphael was desperately grabbing at Mary, trying to get her off of him. She held on, staring at Constantine, silently asking for help. Angela was unconscious on the floor.
He picked up his gun, running toward Raphael just as he threw Mary from his back. She landed on the floor with a grunt. Constantine aimed his gun.
"Hey asshole," he cried. He shot at his right wing, but Raphael dodged it. The dragon's breath from the gun caught on something flammable, Constantine didn't see what, and there was an explosion, fire shooting out in all directions. He didn't even see where Raphael ran to.
"Fuck," he muttered. He crawled towards Mary. She was lying on her side.
"Hi," she said weakly. Constantine pulled her roughly against his body.
"Don't ever scare me like that again," he whispered, burring his face in her hair.
"I couldn't watch him hurt you," Mary said, pulling away from him. "I'm so sorry, John, this is all my fault."
Constantine held her face between his hands. "No, it's not," he said. He looked around them, seeing all the fire. He saw Angela begin to wake up. She was coughing, looking all around in confusion, but seemingly alright. Constantine was relieved. Raphael, however, was still no where to be seen.
"Promise me something," Constantine said, focusing once more on Mary.
"Anything," she replied honestly. I would give anything for you, John.
"If we get through this," he said, "marry me." Mary raised an eyebrow.
"Is this your idea of an ideal proposal?" she asked dryly. "Or are you asking because you know we'll die?"
"I'm asking you, Mary, because I love you," Constantine admitted. "I love you." Mary smiled, eyes watering.
"I love you, too," she whispered, loving the look of joy spreading across his face, warming his features.
"Sorry to interrupt," Angela said, shielding her eyes from the flames. They hadn't even noticed her walking their way. "But I'm guessing it might be a good time to leave now."
Constantine pulled Mary up, holding her hand. Before he could respond, Mary screamed, falling to the floor. Raphael, minus two wings, had crept up on them and had grabbed her ankle, pulling her to him.
"She's mine, John!" he screamed, pulling Mary to him. "She's mine and you can't have her!"
Mary kicked him in the chin, but he still didn't release his hold. Suddenly, she stopped struggling. She knew Constantine was trying to reload his gun as fast as possible, and she knew she had to buy time.
She started to sing. She didn't have her guitar, which was probably already burned to a crisp, but she sang anyway. It was a slow, melancholy tune, causing both Constantine and Raphael to stop their actions. Constantine ignored it, though, catching on to what Mary was trying to accomplish, and focused on reloading the gun.
Raphael, now human, his other wing lost in the fire, sat entranced. He let go of Mary's ankle, completely memorized by her voice. She stood up, still singing. Raphael raised himself on his knees, and slowly pulled her to him, wrapping his arms around her waist. Mary allowed him, knowing his fate and wanting to comfort him the best way she could before it happened.
Just as she sang her last note, Raphael was dropped out of his reverie. He snarled, furious, and as he lunged at her, a shot rung out through the warehouse. Raphael looked up at Mary, shock and dismay marking his once beautiful features. He fell slowly, slumping to the ground, watching her. His eyes declaring all the betrayal he had no time left to speak of.
Constantine grabbed Mary's arm. "Come on," he commanded, pulling her out of the warehouse with him. Her last glimpse was of Raphael, broken on the floor, dying.
