"John sent me to get to Nige," said Frank, "When I arrived I saw that that chap land on a car, I couldn't park there so I rounded the block looking for a spot, then when I returned I saw the chap walking very well following you, where I come from, If a man doesn't get effected by such a fall then you have every right to run him over."
Frank, Nigel and Gabriel were all in Frank's new car. They were fleeing the scene of Nigel's apartment.
"He also asked me to give you the recap," said Frank, addressing Gabriel, "The couple had their child but it was abducted by someone, possibly from the government, and yesterday some Angels took away the father and the bird is no where to be seen."
Frank did a sharp turn and bolted in that direction.
"Is he Okay?" asked Frank as he saw Nigel's head wobbled.
"He's stoned out of his wits."
John walked out of apartment and put on his trench coat as he walked down the stairs. He was getting sick of the whole situation; he'd wished he told Eudaemon and Ellie to shove it.
He'd tried summoning Azrael for hours to explain his side of it and ask what would become of him, but she never showed up, he didn't know what to say. It was pretty damn clear what he was doing; he wanted to be a smartass and let his curiosity get the best of him.
As he walked out into the street and head to Moriarty's he caught glimpses of blank stares in the eyes of Angels that passed him on the street, and looks in the demons' eyes taunted him, the word of his situation must have hit the street.
He was definitely screwed.
Frank helped Nigel into the Shop with Gabriel right behind, Jack and John were surprised to see the condition he was in.
"Oh god, What's with Nige?" asked Jack.
"He's been binging on drugs all day." said Frank.
John lit a cigarette and put it to his lips as Jack took a look at Nigel's pupils.
"Can he perform the divination?" asked John, not concerned enough about Nigel.
"Is that all you care about?" asked Gabriel, irritated by John's insensitivity.
"Don't give me that, Gabriel. You're one to talk."
"John, He may barely distinguish you from my fridge." said Jack.
"Damn it," said John, "The one time I desperately need his help, he bails on me, worthless piece of shit!"
"There are slightly more pressing matters at hand"
"Like what"
"Nergal for one"
"Who?" asked John.
"Nergal?" asked Jack, "As in General of the Devil's spies? As in the Nergal deported in 1605, by you if I'm not mistaken"
"Yes, he's back."
John grabbed Nigel by the face and asked him sternly, "Did you tell him?"
Nigel just starred blankly, not giving any response.
"Nigel, did you tell him anything"
"I couldn't help It, I'm so sorry."
John clutched Nigel's head as he processed the news, Fury building up inside him. He finally let go of him and walked away, "Keep him under your sight." was all he said as he stepped into the night.
Nergal walked up to the gate of the mansion, all confidence, never minding the guard who stood at his post.
"Can I help you?" asked the guard.
Nergal kept walking.
"Hey, you can't-"
Nergal shoved into his booth violently and with one hop he was on the other side of the gate, making his way to the door as several men tried to stop him, he disposed of all with ease. He kicked the front door open and punched a massive man who tried to stop him, three men encountered the same fate as he made his way to the study. Nergal took a deep breath and walked through the door.
A classic mahogany library was inside, bookshelves stoked with old volumes, a thick Persian rug covered the floor. The opera Madam Butterfly blared through the surround sound stereo system as a man stood in the center of the room reading from a book yellowed by age.
"I assume you're new in town," said the man as he spun around, "Seeing as every demon in L.A. knows better than to break and enter into this house."
The tall man had long silver hair, he was considerable handsome with features that showed wisdom although he was still a few years away from forty.
"Are you Aaron Crowley?" asked Nergal.
"I Am." replied Crowley, "And you are?"
Several men burst into the study pointing their guns at Nergal.
"Nergal."
Crowley nodded and said, "I understand. Gentlemen, this is a guest of mine. Don't worry, return to you posts."
The men were reluctant but obliged, and as soon as the last one left, Crowley asked, "Fancy some Cognac?"
"Some Dom would be great"
"A man of taste."
Crowley poured some Dom into a couple of glasses and presented one to Nergal. The two sat on leather chairs opposite from each other.
"When have you arrived"
"Last night"
"Is this your first time in L.A"
"Last time I was here it wasn't L.A., it was very different."
"So, Baron Nergal. How can myself and the damnation army(1) help you"
"I came in search of the Demoness Ellie"
"Yes, I know her, she's been on the loose for a day, she's gone into hiding"
"I visited a rambling psychic this day who told me about a ridiculous love affair between her and-"
"An Angel that resulted in a child. Yes, It's true"
"You know where the child is"
"He's in one of the room of this mansion."
Nergal drank the contents of his glass, stood up and walked over to Crowley .
"I assume you plan on giving the child to your master; the Devil"
"Certainly"
"So why haven't you done it yet"
"It isn't easy sending an infant to hell"
"Why don't we just stick a knife in it"
"All dead children go to heaven; we don't want that; do we? Any sort of spell will result in the child's essence being split in half, then we'd just have a half-bread angel in heaven and a half-bread demon in hell."
"So what do we do?" asked Nergal.
"It's simple, in five nights there will be an alignment of the earth, the moon, mars and it's two moons, at that time we could transport anything to hell. Provided it's still with us by then."
"What do you need?" asked Nergal.
"I need John Constantine to have a very bad week"
"Done."
The Devil looked into the barren land before him, scorching winds wreacking with the stench of brimstone blowing, the streets were crammed with the teeming masses of the damned, all walking on in silence, their faces dumb with sorrow and grief.
News had just come in on the child, Lilith was going on and on about her rage and disgust with her daughter that had taken an Angel for a mate.
"Tell my wives and sons I've left to earth." he said as he walked away. This was something he couldn't miss.
"Last call."
John pointed at the empty glass in front of him, the bartneder filled it up with Wild Turkey. It was past Midnight, All who were in the bar were John, a man with a couple days of stubble growth wearing a suit, drinking his sorrows away, he had 'Laid off' written all over him, some college kids were having a drinking marathon, 'A bunch of idiots drinking so they don't have to worry about what the future holds, so they forget how lost they were.', a little old lady in the corner was smoking and drinking shots of tequila, she was dressed too good for a bar, John had seen her several times in here before, and he imagined how her life was like, 'She must drink by herself all night every night so that when she goes home she won't realize how empty it is, after the kids left and her husband passed away leaving her all alone with her three cats'.
John enjoyed imagining how bad other people's lives were, maybe to take his mind off how his hollow his life was, his only family was on the other coast, his friends died all the time simply because they were his friends, no love. The only people who wouldn't ever leave him alone were probably the Devil and Azrael, and now he felt that the second would eventually come to his doorstep one day, maybe forty years from today, when he'd be too cleaver or too egotistic and he'd finally kick the bucket; she's come one day and drag him to hell, where the Devil will have his way with him, and rip him to pieces for all eternity.
'Just when I thought I was out, they pulled me right back in.'
John gulped his drink, paid his bill and got up, as he head to the door he waved to the laid off man in the suit, the college guys and the old lady, he said, "Don't worry, It can always get worst."
The Devil walked through Jack's store, the later was reading in his chair with only one light lit, he didn't notice the devil needless to say.
"You're tired, you need to sleep, you've been working all day and you need some rest. Sleep." whispered the Devil in Jack's ear.
Jack put down the book and removed his glasses and closed his eyes, figuring he could use a little nap.
Nigel slumbered on a couch at the back of the shop, he was sleeping off the effect of the drugs.
The Devil stuffed a single role of weed into his shirt pocket, then stood behind the sleeping man and whispered into his ear.
"Someone is here."
Nigel woke up feeling extremely alarmed, he felt an ominous presence in the room, but he was too sure.
"You've had you one heck of a couple of days. All the shit in your system is getting you paranoid, there is nothing here."
Nigel seemed to relax.
"But now, you can't sleep, although you're tired, and you're really nervous about the divination tomorrow, you're still reeling form the divination the other day. You need something to help you relax."
Nigel searched his pockets; he found the roll of weed. 'Where did this come from?'
"Must have stuck it in you pocket when you were with Nergal." whispered the devil, "Go ahead, do it. You need it."
Nigel looked behind him and saw Jack sleeping peacefully, he reached into his pocket and took out his lighter, he stuck the joint in his mouth and lit the tip.
From a few puffs Nigel realized something was wrong, he was feeling strange, he couldn't control his movement very well, he tried to call for Jack but his vocal cords didn't respond, a sudden coldness filled him and he saw the lighter slip from his hand.
Suddenly the lighter froze in mid air, Nigel could move again, he looked up and there he saw that man dressed in white.
"Hello, Nigel." the Devil said.
The drug induced paranoia and the dizziness was gone, Nigel no longer felt the fabrics of cloth under his skin, even the coldness was gone. It could mean only one thing.
"Oh god!" said Nigel with the utmost fear.
"My name is Lucifer Morningstar(2), actually." said the devil.
"Wh.. I'm going to hell!" asked Nigel as the truth donned on him.
"Gambling, Promiscuous sex, hustling, Getting shit-faced everyday; which of these did you mistakenly think will lead you to heaven?"
Nigel hung his head in despair.
"Tell me what Constantine is planning and You will be consigned to a tolerable region of hell, I won't be a spa, but It will be better than others."
"No, I won't." said Nigel, putting on a brave face but trembling while he did so.
"'No, I won't!'" the devil scoffed, "An hour in Lilith's lair and you'll be singing a different tune."
Satan took hold of Nigel's wrist and dragged him along; the terrified psychic took one last look at the sleeping Jack, the cozy book shop and the lighter frozen in air. The Devil opened the door to the bathroom and there was hell behind that door, Nigel closed his eyes wishing he'd wake up surrounded by empty bottle of beer and used syringed of heroin. But he never would.
Note: Aaron Crowley is named after famed mystic and occultist Alestir Crowley(1875-1945.
(1) In the Hellblazer comics, the Damnation Army was a satanic faction sponsored by Nergal going up against a holy faction called the Resurection Crusade, John Constantine destroyed both.
(2) Lucifer is latin for 'Morning-star'