Chapter 3
Constantine and Kirishima stared long and hard at each other.
"Well?" she asked, "Are you going to let me in?"
Constantine moved out of the doorway, but kept his eyes locked on hers. Kirishima entered the hotel room and Constantine closed the door behind her. The Demoness glanced at Angela.
"Hello." Angela said.
Kirishima said nothing, and looked back at Constantine.
"Why are you here?" he asked.
"Believe it or not," Kirishima replied, "I asked to be here."
"Why?" Constantine demanded.
Kirishima glanced at Angela, before returning her gaze to Constantine.
"Someone killed your son." She stated, "And they wanted you to think I did it. I want to know who and why."
"And just how do you expect to do this?"
"I'm coming with you."
"No." Constantine growled, "Hell no! I'm not working alongside a demon."
"You worked with Mara."
"I didn't have a choice now did I?" Constantine snapped back, "Now I do. I'm not taking you with!"
"You owe me." Kirishima said as she pointed at her shoulder, "Right now I'm the only thing keeping the Queen from unleashing a horde of Demons after you."
"Bring'em on." Constantine growled. He turned and stormed out of the hotel room. Angela guessed the shield spell left by Mara must have dissipated by Mana's arrival.
Kirishima stared at the door. Angela shifted uneasily, causing the Demoness to glance in her direction.
"Don't take it personally." Angela said, "He's made mistakes over the years, ones that cost him his friend's lives. Seeing you is just reminding him that he's not infallible."
"I don't expect an apology." Mana said, "I won't forgive him either. I'm a Demon. If he expects forgiveness….."
"He doesn't."
"All I want to do is find the ones who painted the bulls-eye on me."
"And we'll do that." Angela replied.
"We won't if Constantine runs off without us!"
"Oh he won't go very far." Angela said, "You can trust me on this."
Mana looked at the woman curiously.
"Is this some kind of married couple thing?"
"No."
"Psychic powers?"
"No."
"Then how do you know?"
"Simple." Angela held up her hand, "I have the car keys."
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The drive to McLintok's was mostly silent. Even with the heat on, Angela could still feel the chill in the car as she drove. Constantine was sitting in the passenger seat, glaring out the windshield. Occasionally he'd glanced up at the rearview mirror, trying to see Kirishima in the back seat. The Demoness seemed to be simply looking out the window. But when Constantine returned his gaze to the road, Angela caught the Demoness' eyes turn towards him. Angela sighed and Kirishima heard it. The two made eye contact through the mirror. Kirishima then pulled a device out of her pocket with her good hand. Angela recognized it as an SDAT. Soon music could just barely be heard from the ear buds the Demoness now wore.
Constantine turned and stared at the Demoness until he felt a hand on his leg. He glanced at Angela who shook her head. He gave one final look at Kirishima, then turned around.
Thirty minutes later, they arrived at the cemetery. Constantine and Angela immediately got out of the car and headed towards the caretaker's home. They stopped when they noticed Kirishima wasn't with them.
"Are you coming?" Constantine asked as he turned around. Then he saw the look on Kirishima's face. She was standing just outside the entrance to the cemetery, and looked positively pale.
"I can smell it." She said.
"Smell what?"
"Death." Kirishima replied.
Constantine rolled his eyes.
"It's a cemetery." He said, "Of course there's death here. Look around you!"
Kirishima narrowed her eyes at him.
"That isn't the death I'm talking about." She snapped back, "Someone died here. Recently and violently."
"Again. Cemetery."
"Does it look like anyone's been buried here recently?"
Constantine paused a moment. Looking around, he had to agree. The place didn't look like it'd been the site of any recent burials.
"Exactly." Kirishima said as she marched past him towards the caretaker's house.
Constantine followed her, grumbling to himself.
"Let it go John." Angela said softly, "She's only responding to your comments. If you're civil to her, she'll return it."
"Civil to a demon." Constantine grumbled, "That'll be the day."
They reached the house, and Constantine walked up the stairs to knock on the door. He'd barely raised his hand when Kirishima spoke.
"There's no one here."
He paused for a moment, then reached out with his psychic feelers. He could feel something, but nothing alive.
He reached out and tried the door. It opened with a slight creak. He turned and looked back at Angela and Kirishima before entering the house. It looked almost exactly as he and Angela had seen it days before. Nothing seemed out of place. Then he noticed Kirishima. She was looking downward at the floor. He followed her eyes, but couldn't see anything of interest on the floor. He was just about to question her when something caught his eye. Kirishima's eyes were flickering between their normal green color, and red. Then it clicked. She wasn't looking at the floor, so much as looking through it, into the basement.
Ignoring the rest of the house, Constantine headed towards the basement door and started down the steps. Footsteps behind him alerted him to Angela's and then Kirishima's presence behind him.
The basement too, seemed untouched. Constantine moved to the table and began digging through the papers there. Angela was looking over the books in the shelves. Kirishima seemed to be taking an interest in the religious items lining the walls.
"I wouldn't touch those." Constantine said as he shuffled the papers, "I wouldn't want anything bad to happen to you."
"What do you mean?"
Constantine looked up to see the Demoness looking at him curiously, an ornate Celtic cross in her hands. He stood up and moved beside the Demoness. He grabbed the small tag hanging off of the cross and read it. His eyes were wide in shock.
"This cross was blessed by St Patrick." He said, "There is no way you should be able to touch this!"
"I'm not a normal demon." Kirishima replied, "You should remember that."
"We will." Angela said, moving to the table. She held up the necklace with the rune carved in it's stone. "Have you seen this before?"
Kirishima frowned.
"That's my mark." She replied.
"Any idea why it would be found by one of the victims?" Constantine asked.
Kirishima shook her head.
"I haven't placed my mark on anything like that." She replied, "Only on my demonic sword."
"Then why would it be on this necklace?"
"I don't know." Kirishima said, "I'm barely in my twenties. I haven't had near enough time to create a cult in my name. The older demons, the ones with a few thousand years under their belts, they have necklaces like this all over the earth, marking those that they have made deals with, or own their souls." She pointed at the necklace. "I have had nothing to do with anything like that."
Constantine frowned as he stared at the necklace. From beside him, Angela spoke.
"What about the other demons?" she asked, "Would they know your mark?"
"Of course." Kirishima replied, "All demons know the mark of the others. It's like a big sign that says 'so and so owns me, hands off' or 'I am a follower of so and so'."
"Could then another Demon have made this?" Angel asked, "Put your mark on it?"
"It's not unheard of." The Demoness replied, her voice shaking slightly.
Constantine frowned. Something was wrong. The Demoness seemed even more paler then when they'd first entered the cemetery. And now her voice was shaking.
"You still smell it don't you?" he asked.
Angela looked confused for a moment, but understood when Kirishima responded.
"The stench of Death is strong here."
Constantine looked around the room. Looking past the religious items and books of the arcane, nothing seemed out of the ordinary for a basement. A quick glance at the floor and under the table showed a solid concrete slab, unmarred but from time itself. He then looked at the stairs. They were wooden, with what looked like a storage space underneath. He reached out with his psychic feelers. Something was there. It was what he had felt just before entering the house, only stronger. He moved to the panel that opened the storage area and unlocked it. He gave a tug and pulled it open.
The stench of rotting flesh hit his nostrils, causing him to stagger back. Behind him, Angela was retching. Kirishima's face was frozen.
Holding his breath, Constantine peered into the space under the stairs. It was McLintok. His body seemed almost mummy like, covered in insects and webs. The corpse's face was one of horrible pain, ended only by death. Constantine motioned to Kirishima.
"Don't suppose you know what killed him?" he asked.
Kirishima hesitated, before walking over. Her eyes flickered slightly as she stared at the corpse.
"Hard to say for certain," She began, "But it looks like he died of a heart attack."
"A heart attack?" Constantine asked.
"Brought on by fear." Kirishima replied. She looked up at Constantine. "Demons can kill without going biblical."
"So how do you kill?"
Kirishima's eyes widened, then narrowed.
"Use your imagination." She snapped. She whirled about and walked over to the bookshelves. Angela then walked up to Constantine.
"You should really stop provoking her." she muttered.
Constantine ignored the comment and motioned to the corpse.
"He's been in there sometime. At least a few weeks, even as long as a month."
Angela blinked. "So who did we meet?"
"A very good question." Constantine looked back at where the Demoness was now flipping through the files gathered on her. "Could a demon take the shape of someone they killed? Posing as them?"
Kirishima frowned.
"I don't know."
"What about Ellie, Balthazar, and the low demons?" Angela asked, "How do they get their appearance?"
"Again, I don't know." Kirishima replied, "But I suppose it could be possible."
Constantine looked back at Angela.
"We need to find the fake McLintok." He said.
Angela nodded and closed her eyes.
"I don't know how you expect to find him." Kirishima said, "He's got to be long……" He voice trailed off as she watched Angela begin to move about the basement, her hand dragging slightly along the wall.
"Umm," the Demoness said softly, "What is she doing?"
"Finding our Mr. McLintok." Constantine replied.
"How is she…..?" Kirishima began before Angela moved her out of the way.
Angela stood at the table, staring at it for what seemed a long time. Then her hand moved across and under a pile of papers. When she withdrew it, her hand now held a small matchbook. Constantine carefully took the matchbook from her and read the name on it.
"You've got to be kidding" He muttered.
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"These people are sick." Angela muttered.
They had parked the car across the street from the bar. The name flashed in neon right over the door.
Beezel Pub.
"I don't think there are people in there." Constantine said. He glanced at Kirishima. "Are there?"
"No." the Demoness replied, "It's full of demons."
"Demons." Angela turned to her husband. "You aren't about to walk into a bar full of demons are you?"
"That was the plan." Constantine said as he moved to the trunk of the car. He opened it and began to assemble the holy shotgun. Kirishima stared at it, then looked up at Constantine.
"You don't need that." She said, "Let me go in with you and….."
"No offense." Constantine said as he loaded the gun, "But I've been doing this for a very long time. Besides, you still aren't the legal age to enter a bar."
Kirishima glared at him.
"I may be only twenty." She growled, "But I can still help."
"Help how?" Constantine asked as he cocked the weapon. "You only have one functional arm."
"That's all I'll need."
"Sorry." Constantine replied, " You're overruled. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm in the mood for a friendly conversation." He turned and walked towards the bar.
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The door to the bar slammed open, causing all present to look over. Constantine entered, the gun set back against his shoulder.
He looked around and noted all the red gleaming eyes looking his way.
"Hello." He said, "My name is John. I'm looking for friend."
A nearby demon rose to his feet.
"You'll fine no friends here exorcist!" he snarled. Several other demons growled in agreement.
"No need to be angry." Constantine said, "I'm only here for friendly conversation."
"I'll give you conversation." The demon said moving closer to Constantine, "Get the Hell out!"
Constantine lowered his gun and pointed it directly at the demon.
"You call this friendly conversation?" a female voice asked from the door.
Every single demon in the bar froze. Constantine let out a sigh.
"I told you to wait at the car Kirishima." He said.
"And I said I didn't want to."
Constantine turned around to carry on the argument, but the words never left his throat.
The Demoness stood in the doorway. Her outfit had changed from her college girl outfit, to one of black leather, with a flowing cape. Her eyes had also changed from green to red, and red markings, much like Mara's, lined her cheeks and forehead. She walked over and stood beside Constantine.
"Alright!" she called out, "You all had better listen up! We are looking for a demon that looks like this mortal." She waved her right hand and an image of McLintok appeared in the air. "Anyone with information had better tell me right now."
"If we don't?" came a voice from the back.
Kirishima's eyes flared bright red.
"Then you will find me very unhappy." She said, her voice soft and deadly. "If I'm unhappy, Queen Hild is unhappy." She glanced at a corner where two demons had started to move out the back door. "And don't bother trying to leave. I've shielded this place."
Every Demon in the bar remained motionless and silent.
"Tough crowd." Constantine muttered.
"It's about to loosen up a bit." Kirishima growled. She walked over to a payphone near the door and dialed a long number. After a moment, she said something in Demonic that Constantine couldn't catch. The Demons near the phone had though. Many were looking rather pale. Another minutes past, and Kirishima spoke loud and clear.
"Hello Auntie." She said sweetly, "How's Hell? Oh, it still stings bad. No, I haven't damned him yet. Why not? Didn't Mara…..? Oh I see." Her eyes moved about the bar. "Well it seems some low order 'scum' may have had a hand in getting me shot." She held the phone away from her ear as a loud shout of 'WHAT!' came from the earpiece.
"Yes Auntie." The Demoness said as she returned the phone to her ear, "We're at a place where he's hiding, but there are others here who aren't very helpful. I'm going to have Mr. Constantine start 'deporting' them randomly until they talk. You think you could have fun with the 'deportees' as they arrive?"
Every single demon present in the room paled. Almost as one they leaped to their feet and began pointing to a corner, all shouting about how the one they sought was there and they'd be most honored to help the favored of the Queen.
Kirishima smirked as Constantine walked over and grabbed the fake McLintok.
"Never mind Auntie. They were helpful after all." She said, "But you'll definitely want this one when we're done. I will. Bye!"
Constantine led McLintok out of the bar. Kirishima followed, then paused for a moment at the door.
"It would be best if you all stayed indoors for about a hour."
She then turned and left with a swirl of her cape.
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"I see you found him." Angela noted as Constantine led the fake McLintok to the car.
"I had a little help." Constantine replied. He glanced over his shoulder. To his surprise, Kirishima had returned to the t-shirt and jeans she'd arrived in. Her eyes had also returned to green, and there were no sign of the demonic markings on her face.
"How do you do that?" he asked.
"A girl's gotta have a few secrets." Kirishima replied. She then turned to the fake McLintok. "Speak: Why did you have me shot?"
The fake McLintok glared at Kirishima.
"You should never have been." He growled, "You are a plague on Hell, a disease. Your very existence is revolting to me."
Constantine frowned, right before he smashed a bottle of holy water against the back of McLintok's head. The demon screamed in pain as the skin dissolved from his head, revealing the demon within.
"You need to learn to treat women better." Constantine grumbled, "Now who do you work for?"
"I'll never tell!" McLintok snapped, "He'll get you Exorcist! He'll get his revenge!"
Constantine leaned back.
"There's few people I know in Hell that want revenge on me this badly." Constantine said, "One is standing beside me, one is Lucifer, and the other is his son."
"Mammon?" Kirishima whispered, "No one has heard from him since….."
"Since he tried to come to Earth?" Constantine asked
"Well…. Yes." Kirishima said. She turned and walked away.
Constantine frowned as he watched Kirishima walk off.
"Looks like the half-breed is upset." McLintok said with a smirk, "Must suck to be a freak of nature."
Another bottle of holy burst over the demon's head, causing him to howl in pain.
"Definitely need to know how to treat a woman." Angela growled. She then turned and went after Kirishima.
"Geez Exorcist," McLintok muttered, "You too weak to fight your own fights?"
"No." Constantine replied, "I'm just know what fights to fight." He then pulled the trigger on the gun.
The demon exploded into ash as the holy bullet hit him.
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Angela walked up behind Kirishima. If the Demoness noticed her, she didn't acknowledge it.
"Are you alright?" she asked.
"Have you ever wished to be something you couldn't?" Kirishima asked, her back still to Angela.
"There were times I wish I didn't have the powers I do." Angela said, "That my sister and I could have had a normal childhood."
The Demoness chuckled. "Maybe we're more alike then I thought."
Behind her, Angela heard the blast of the gun, followed the sound of ash raining down to the ground, announcing the 'deportation' of the fake McLintok. Within moments, Constantine was beside Angela.
"Everything alright here?" he asked.
Kirishima whirled about.
"No problems here." She stated. She moved off towards the car.
"What's her problem?" Constantine asked.
"You remember what they told us about her?" Angela asked.
"You mean her being the product of Demonic rape?"
"She hates being a demon." Angela said, narrowing her eyes at Constantine. "I think she hates herself even more then you hate her."
"Not possible." Constantine replied.
"Perhaps," Angela replied, "But I think not." She turned and headed back to the car.
Constantine frowned before following.
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The car ride back to the hotel was as silent as the ride out. Once again, Angela drove, occasionally glancing in the rear view mirror at the Demoness. Kirishima sat with her eyes closed, once again drowning out all other sounds with those from her SDAT.
Constantine however was in deep thought. Finally he turned and looked at the Demoness.
"Why are you here?" he asked.
Kirishima opened her eyes and turned off the SDAT with a click.
"What?" she asked as she pulled the buds from her ears.
"Why are you here?" Constantine asked again.
"To find out who wanted me shot." She replied.
"Not that." Constantine snapped, "Why are you on the Earth? Why aren't you in Hell?"
"John!" Angela said.
"It's a fair question." Kirishima said, looking at Angela through the rear view mirror. She turned to face Constantine. "I'm here because of my Mother."
Constantine snorted.
"Your mother? And what does she think of you being a Demon?"
"Well I really don't know because she's dead."
Both Angela and Constantine stared at the Demoness.
"How?" Angela asked softly.
Kirishima looked out the window.
"I used to have a normal childhood." She whispered, "Until I turned four. My Mother had a fear of the dark, she said monsters existed there. As a kid, I agreed. Even thought it was cool Mom had a nightlight too. Nightlights are supposed to keep the monsters away." She closed her eyes. A tear ran down her cheek. "And then the monster came." She turned and looked at Constantine, tears now traveling freely down her face. "The Demon that I'm forced to call 'Father' came to eliminate me and my Mother, as he should have done after he raped her. I watched from under the bed as he killed her."
Angela was horrified, while Constantine nodded grimly. He knew exactly what a Demon was capable of doing, having seen it first hand.
"Before he could kill me, the Queen's guards arrived and took him prisoner." Kirishima sighed, "That's when I found out what I was, a monster, despite anything that Hild told me otherwise."
"You could have turned her down." Constantine pointed out.
"Yeah… right. I could have." Kirishima growled, "A four year old is fully capable of making decisions on her life. Get real. It wasn't until I turned nine that I really thought about leaving, but by then I'd found out why I was the only half-breed." She looked back out the window. "So then it became a matter of survival." She shrugged. "Of course the Doublet system helped in that, but I was a kid. I decide then to be the best Demon I could."
"Obviously that's changed if you're only damning criminals." Constantine pointed out.
"Yeah, it did." She looked back at Constantine. "Even while I learned to become a Demon, I went to school. Around High School, it was decided I was to move to Japan."
Both Constantine and Angela frowned. Kirishima noticed.
"What?"
"There have been rumors." Constantine said, "Japan has been mostly free of Demonic activity since before the Second Impact."
"Probably because of the Goddesses." The Demoness said, "I was sent there to continue to work on becoming a first class. I suppose I was also sent to try and balance out the Goddesses." She sighed. "Either way, I went to High School, fell for a mortal boy, tried to make him mine."
"Is this where some girl wants you dead for trying to steal her boyfriend?" Angela asked.
"Damn Mara. She blabs too much." Kirishima growled, "Yeah, she does. They were also friends with a goddess in the High School. We ended up in a big fight, and I lost."
"If you lost, why are you still on the Earth?" Constantine asked.
"Because things don't work that way for demons like me." Kirishima replied, "Yes she defeated me. Then when I turned up at school the next day, she acted like my best friend." The Demoness went quiet.
"She is my best friend." She finally stated.
Constantine blinked. That comment that Kirishima had made went totally against everything he knew about both Heaven and Hell. No wonder someone wanted her dead.
"So what's next?" he asked.
"We need to figure out why Mammon is suddenly active." Kirishima stated, "He's been quiet for years. Something had to set him off."
"How do we do that?" Angela asked.
"We?" Kirishima repeated.
"Yes 'We'." Constantine replied, "We're in this together."
"I don't think you understand….." The Demoness said.
"Look," Constantine said, "We intend to get the basterd that got our son killed. And I'm willing to go to any lengths to find the asshole!"
"Same here." Angela added.
"So," Constantine stated, "What's next?"
"Next…." Kirishima said softly, "We go to Hell. Literally."