Innocence
Chapter 7 Off Guard
John had been out all night searching for any news of Mammon. I couldn't sleep Midnite's worlds kept running through my head over and over. What if he was right? What if evil really did run in my veins and I was just biding my time until I took over the thrown of Hell.
It was dark but I could just make out the dark form of Chas lying nearby on the floor. I could hear his peaceful breathing lulling me softly into the land of dreams.
"Chas?" I questioned softly.
Silence.
"I'm just so worried. I know Midnite is a reliable source he wouldn't say something he wasn't sure of. What if Mammon does somehow get control of me? I don't know what I'm capable of what if I am evil"
"Gaia." Chas said turning to face me.
"There is no way in this world or any other that you're evil. I know you. You're sweet, you're kind and you're considerate." He smiled.
Somehow his words filled me with hope. There was just something about them that brung me comfort I could trust Chas I know I could.
"Hey" I said softly sitting up to make room for him.
"Sit"
He sat beside me taking my hand and gently pushing my head onto his chest the rise and fall synchronised with my own.
"You're special Gaia, you're good me and John can both see it"
"Yeah maybe so but it isn't gonna stop Mammon is it? He wants Lucifer dead and he wants me to do it for him"
"Well, he ain't laying one finger on you. He ain't touching one hair on your head coz I'm here ad I won't let him"
Chas gently stroked my hair pushing my bangs out of my face and smiled. A smile of comfort, friendship, joy and optimism.
I closed my eyes knowing no matter what was going on John and Chas would always be here for me through thick and thin.
"You fucking bitch"
I was caught off guard. I felt myself being flung to the floor before he straddled me gripping tightly around my neck.
"Chas…?" I choked unable to breathe through the pressure on my wind wipe.
I looked desperately into his eyes. Those eyes… There was nothing, not even a glimmer of what had been before.
"No Luceria, Mammon." He laughed evilly squeezing tighter and tighter.
"You don't want me dead!" I sobbed unable to bring any more oxygen into my tightening lungs.
"No? You know what I want Luceria, I want Lucifer dead and your going to do that for me aren't you"
"No," it was getting increasingly harder to breathe talking was becoming impossible.
"I can't kill you but I can kill the boy." He said dragging me roughly into the kitchen his right hand remaining clammed around my throat.
Mammon was possessing Chas that much I knew but why? All I knew was that I had to break free and soon.
He grabbed a knife from the drawer, finally releasing his grip on my delicate neck. He placed the sharp object to Chas's throat applying enough pressure for a small trickle of blood to escape.
"Please don't… Mammon please"
"Hey sis what's the matter? You're supposed to be the great Luceria daughter of Satan and Merisier! You can't even save this pathetic human! YOU are no ruler"
"No!" I cried shaking my head how could I live with myself I had brought Chas into this.
Mammon paused as we heard a key enter a lock and moments later the familiar sound of John Constantine's voice.
"Hey guys where are you?" He shouted.
Mammon held a finger to Chas's lips a huge grin spreading across his face.
"Oh Christ you guys better no be in my fucking bed doing god knows what. Urg." He shouted in disgust.
I heard foot steeps and then he was there. Standing in the doorway staring in shock at the scene before him.
"Chas what the fuck are you doing you stupid fucking idiot"
"He's not Chas." I cried pleading desperately with my eyes for him to help.
"That's right Luceria I'm your long lost brother here to claim back what is rightfully mine"
He walked towards me still holding the knife to his neck. John moved an inch forward desperate to stop Mammon from harming his only real friends.
Before I knew what had happened Mammon had grabbed me from behind and was now holding the knife across my cheek.
"Don't you hurt her you mother fucker!" John screamed.
I would have given anything to have been this close to Chas, to have him hold me tightly but this wasn't Chas"
"You will help me Luceria. I can control any one of your little friends just remember that next time you go to sleep"
He pushed the knife deep into my soft skin, I felt the blood begin to pour down my face, I felt the sting as he cut deeper and deeper bringing the knife down towards my neck. Then it stopped.
Tears began to run mingling with my already spilt blood. My whole body began to shake through shock. I bit down hard on my lip trying to block the increasing pain across my face.
"What?" Chas questioned confused.
He finally realised the knife in his hand dropping it to the ground with a clang. He steeped hastily away from me holding his hands up oblivious to the events previously.
"John?" He questioned.
I slowly turned to face him, blood dripping down my face.
"Gaia what? Did I?" I shook my head moving slowly forward gripping Chas tightly thankful he was okay.
"Thank God you're okay, I thought…" I sobbed into his shoulder.
"Gaia what the fuck is going on?" John asked from the corner pulling a cigarette from his pocket and lighting it hastily.
"Things just got complicated."
