AN: Thanks for all the reviews, guys! Here's chapter 4!
John dressed well for the party- including a coat large enough to conceal many weapons, both earthly and religious. He didn't want to have to get the information he needed forcibly, but if it went that way…well, he'd do anything.
He entered Midnite's club and for once sat down at the bar instead of going back to Midnite's area. He looked around carefully, ordering a drink and waiting for the right opportunity to present itself…
And it did, just a few moments later.
"Hey there…why the long face?" The demon asked, sitting down next to him at the bar and curling her long tail around his back.
"Long day," John said simply as the bartender set the drink down in front of him. "Can I buy you a drink?"
"Oh, I don't feel like messing with the formalities tonight…"
"In a hurry?"
"Tease."
John smirked. It would be hard getting anything out of this one except for 'let's fuck'. Which he wasn't completely opposed to…but then he forced his mind back to the problem at hand. Chas was in trouble. Having sex with a random demon would not help said problem.
"You interested or not?" The woman asked, her tail running up and down his spine with a teasing, light touch.
"Not tonight," John said, and her face fell with disappointment. "I actually wanted to ask you a couple questions…"
Her expression turned to one of suspicion. "What are you, a cop?"
"No. Not a cop. My friend is in trouble. I need to find him."
"That's sweet, but I'm not gonna-"
"You know Balthazar."
She hesitated. "Yeah, what's it to you?"
"Have you seen him since he fell?"
"Maybe. Maybe not. I might've," she said, looking pointedly at him. He sighed, and then pulled out his wallet and pulled a 50 bill from it, sliding it down the counter to him. She picked it up, took a good look at it, and then tucked it in her purse.
"I saw him yesterday," she said with a shrug.
"On this plane? I thought he was banished."
"He made some kind of deal with some higher-up demons, got a boost," she explained. "That's all I know, really, other than he's running some pretty shady deals with the low-lifes of the city."
"Did he say anything about a talisman when you saw him?"
She shrugged again. "I just overheard him for a few seconds. Whatever I know, it's over the grapevine. But I have heard somethin' about him trapping an angel on this plane. I thought he was bullshiting, bragging to get laid."
John's fists tightened. If Balthazar had laid a finger on Chas… "Thanks for your help."
"Thanks for the cash, darlin'," she replied, sliding off the stool and letting her tail slide against his ass as she walked away, prowling for her next trick.
John sighed and looked around the bar. He needed to find a half breed angel who wasn't preoccupied and looked like he might be someone important…he needed to know what the angels knew about this.
He finally spotted a possibility, a man standing near the end of the bar, his white wings tucked carefully behind him as he sipped on a drink and watched the crowd. John stood up and walked over to him, drink in hand.
"John Constantine…it's a surprise, seeing you out socializing," the man said with a small smile.
"Nice to know my reputation precedes me," John said, lighting up a cigarette.
"You're here about Chas."
The man said it so casually that John was surprised. "What can you tell me?"
"I've only been told certain things…can't disrupt the balance by letting you know too much. But a lot of the angels are upset about what's happened," the man said, taking a sip of his drink. "No one has heard from Chas in almost a week. It's as if he disappeared completely from heaven's gaze. From what we know, many demons are involved, but we're still trying to figure out what's happened and how it happened."
"Balthazar is involved."
The angel nodded solemnly. "Not just him though, John. You must tread carefully."
John smirked, taking a drag off his cigarette. "Heaven is finally admitting a need for me?"
"Heaven is exploring every option," the man said, leaning a bit closer to Constantine. "You knew him best. And somehow, he's getting through to you. We have the feeling that he's in this plane, and even the higher angels will admit that you do your best work here in reality."
"I'll sure as hell do my best. When I find those demons…"
"John…I must warn you of something."
John was taken aback by the seriousness, the sudden darkness in the angel's tone. He took another drag off his cigarette. "What?"
"Chas is carrying a very special token. A talisman, on a necklace."
"I know."
"If the talisman is taken from him…his soul will be condemned for eternity. You must, above all else, protect the talisman. Even if he is condemned, you must not let the talisman fall into a demon's hands."
John scowled. "So he's expendable. I see where this is going."
The angel smiled sadly. "One soul for the rescue of many, John. I know how strongly you feel for the boy, but his task is more important than his fate. Protect the talisman."
John stared at the angel, feeling a mix of anger, sorrow, and bitter understanding. "I get it."
He put out his cigarette in the nearest ashtray, and then headed for the door, feeling the angel's eyes on his back the whole way. He paid no attention; he would save that talisman and Chas, no matter what it cost him.
Now he was going to do what he did best: demon hunting.
AN: I like this story. I would review if I were you. So you should review.
