Okay, once it's Easter time again! YAY! Time for chocolate eggs and marshmallow peeps! (Not that I like peeps, but they're fun to blow up in the microwave… Don't ask.) Anyways, on with Chapter 5!
Disclaimer: I don't own Constantine, but my own characters are mine. If I did own Constantine, do you really think that I'd be living in the middle of nowhere? Yeah, right…
Chapter 5: All that is Forgotten is Not Lost
Two Days Later
John's Apartment
Aerin looked at the letters that spelled 'Bowl Bowl Bowl' on the faded paint of the building through tinted sunglasses. She sighed inwardly and picked up the single suitcase that contained all of her worldly possessions. This was going to be her new home, at least it was according to Angela. Angela… she was one of the few people that she had met that treated her as if she was human. Everyone else lately just stared and whispered behind her back.
"Come on in Aerin," Angela said, not unkindly. Wordlessly the girl followed her in through the door and up the stairs until they reached the door of John's apartment. Her eyes took in the symbols that were carved around it, but she wasn't able to pick out any that she knew.
Angela reached up and knocked on the door. A moment passed before it opened and John glanced out. Seeing who it was, he opened it the full way.
"Well, looks like you're here on time," he said. "That's surprising for you Angela." Aerin glanced up as Angela smiled.
"I could say the same for you John. But before we start to argue, John, this is Aerin Kensington. Aerin, this is John Constantine." Aerin nodded as she was introduced. John stood there for a moment, unsure of what to do.
"Well, come in," he said shortly before turning and walking to the coffee maker. Aerin paused for a moment and then walked in tentatively.
"Aerin, I need to go take care of the rest of the paperwork about all of this. I'll be back tomorrow. The social worker will be here at 7:30." The woman smiled at the girl, letting her hand rest on her shoulder for a moment. Aerin nodded silently and watched as Angela left. Then turning, she faced John again.
"Well…" he stopped. What was he supposed to say? He finally settled on, "Take off your glasses, you can't really see with those on, can you." What he said was more of an order than a question.
She complied and reached up, sliding them off her face but keeping her eyes lowered. For a moment she didn't move, but then she looked up and faced the exorcist.
This was the first chance that John got to actually look at her, and he examined her while she did the same to him. Chas had said she was pretty, which she was, but there was more to her than that. And her eyes… he had seen that look before.
Aerin saw a handsome man, tall with deep eyes and dark hair that curled slightly on the back of his neck. Wearing a tie, slacks, dress shirt, and formal shoes, he looked like he belonged in the office. Well, he would have if he hadn't had the aura of danger around him.
Aerin, surprisingly, was the first to break the silence. "What are the symbols on around the door for?" The question was simple and quiet, but it seemed to echo in the space.
"They keep out demons. A shield, if you want to call it that. But after your run-in, I wouldn't think you'd like to hear anything else about demons." He turned around and pulled out the coffee pot to pour himself another cup. Tilting his head slightly as he turned around, he waited for her response.
"I suppose that I have no choice but hear things about them if I'm staying here," she said quietly. "And also if I'm supposed to talk to a counselor." She smiled mirthlessly. "It's kind of ironic, isn't it? You're sane if you're blind and you're insane if you can see." Shaking her head, she sat her suitcase on the floor.
"Hey, put that back here." He motioned to a corner of the apartment that had been curtained off. "You're bed's in there and a table."
"Thank you," she said softly. "I appreciate this."
"I know you do," he answered tonelessly. "You're not the only one who's been locked up in that god-forsaken institute.
"Angela… said something about you being in one when you were fifteen, but I didn't really want to bring it up." She looked shyly up at him through a few strands of hair that had escaped from behind her ear.
"Don't worry about being polite, I usually don't," he said bluntly. That earned a half-smile from her.
"Oh, John?" she asked hesitantly as if she wasn't sure if she could use his name.
"What?"
"Angela also mentioned that… Chas lived here too?" She looked uncertain.
"Yeah, he stays here. He's my apprentice." Noticing her slightly confused look, he sighed. "She didn't tell you everything, did she?" Aerin shook her head. "I'd better explain then," he muttered. Motioning to a chair, he said, "You'd better sit."
7:27 PM
John's Apartment.
John watched as Aerin stood at the window and watched the road. She was waiting for the social worker to arrive, he knew. Frowning, he pulled out another stick of gum. What was going to happen when she did come? He had just finished telling her all about his job and answering almost all of her questions. She had been fascinated with the stories about demons and angels, heaven and hell. When he said that Gabriel was a regular informant of his, her eyes had widened considerably. He smirked to himself. That had been Chas's reaction.
A violent movement at the window drew his attention back to the girl. She had flinched back, almost as if she had been physically struck. Obviously, the social worker had arrived.
A knock on the door moments later confirmed his suspicions. Aerin stepped forward and opened it, touching the doorknob like it was something to be afraid of. She opened it slowly and a woman stood there that was anything but matronly looking. Her suit was immaculate, platinum blond hair was pulled back in a tight bun, and black rimmed glasses were perched on her nose.
"Ah, Aerin, I see that you're here," she said crisply. Almost shoving her way through the door, she took in the apartment with one glance. Turning to John, she walked over with her hand outstretched.
"You must be John Constantine. I am Annabel Stevens." John just looked at her outstretched hand and raised an eyebrow. The social worker frowned and dropped her hand.
"I will be here every other day at this time, along with Dr. Jeffers, the counselor. I expect you to be here as well. I will be taking account of everything, and I expect her to be taking her medications." Looking around, she pulled out a notebook and began asking John questions.
8:15 PM
The House of Judge Peters
"Finally, that fool girl is out of my hands," the Judge laughed. "I did what I was supposed to, and now Angela's out of my hair and I've gotten my reward." Looking down at the long, ornately carved wooden box on his desk, he reverently picked it up.
"Now, to see what's inside…" he whispered and slowly creaked open the top. The box was lined with dark red velvet and lying in it was an old but beautiful sword. The blade shone like cold fire and sloped down to the hilt, which was carved in the form of two wolves' heads facing in opposite directions. Both their mouths were snarling and where their necks touched at the end of the hilt, a deep red ruby was inset in the shape of the Star of David.
"Beautiful," Judge Peters breathed. Picking up the sword with careful hands, he turned it over. "Now," he whispered, "How to unlock your powers?" Speaking aloud he commanded,
"Sword of Gabriel, reveal your powers to me!" Nothing happened. Sighing in frustration, he went to lay it back in its box when the ruby began to glow. Pausing, he raised it to his face and peered at it.
"What the-" he began but crimson light exploded in the room. His yells were swallowed by the brightness as the wolves' eyes began to glow and he was pulled into the ruby. The clatter of the sword hitting the floor was lost in the empty house.
"Fool," laughed a voice as the figure stepped into the room. "There's a reason you never strike a deal with demons." Laughter echoed around the room as a small round object caught the light as it was moved back and forth, back and forth across a hand.
The figure picked up the sword and re-laid it in its case. "A mere mortal could never use this sword anyway," he smiled and fire burned in the depths of his eyes.
"I'm back," he whispered and disappeared with the sword case.
Outside the window someone else watched the lonely scene within the window as greed destroyed another human life. There was a rustle and the angel moved away. Its only noticeable feature to the trained eye, were the crimson wings that arched behind its back.
10:25 PM
John's Apartment
The social worker had finally left, and Aerin had gone to bed early. Chas had returned after that with some information for John. The two sat at the table and Chas filled John in on all that he had learned.
"So, that's what Gabriel meant," John muttered. "When God closes a door, he opens a window. And the same thing happens in hell. That bastard must have made a deal with some upper-class demons to get his way back out of hell after I deported his sorry ass back there." He leaned back in the chair and reached for a beer. "Damn you Balthazar," he growled. "How the fuck did you escape?"
TBC…
Okay, here's Chapter 5. Hope you liked it! What's Balthazar doing back on our plain? And who is the angel with the crimson wings? Chapter 6 up soon!
Eagle
