Chapter 4

"I don't believe this."

"Just accept it."

"I refuse to! I've been there before! So has Angela!"

"This wouldn't be like anything you've done before."

Angela let out a sigh. The entire drive back to the hotel had consisted of her husband arguing with the Demon. Upon arriving, Constantine had started to assemble the things she and he would need as mortals in Hell. Kirishima, however, had gone to the phone and called up Hell. She couldn't make out exactly what the Demoness said, but she did catch the name 'Mara' once or twice.

"I would still rather be the one to go into Hell and find out who is behind this." Constantine growled.

'Go ahead!" Kirishima snapped back, "Try it! You'll be ripped apart by the soldier demons before you know it!"

"That's why you're going to take us!"

"I am NOT taking you to Hell." Kirishima shouted. She then rolled her eyes. "I can't believe I just said that to THE Constantine."

"The fuck is that supposed to mean?"

Kirishima narrowed her eyes.

"Do you have any idea how much prestige and honor is waiting for the Demon that takes down the mighty Constantine?" she asked, "How many Demons are willing to make an effort to get up here and knock you down a peg? How much Lucifer absolutely…."

"I get the point." Constantine said, "So why aren't you trying for it?"

"Because I have more respect for mortal life then the others." Kirishima snapped.

"Right." Constantine said, "Respect." He started towards the door. He opened it forcefully and glared at the Demoness. "The only thing you Demons respect is power and hate." He slammed the door as he left.

"He's had bad experiences with Demons." Angela said softly.

"Who hasn't." Kirishima muttered.

The room was silent for several minutes. Angela glanced over at Kirishima. The Demoness was sitting on the side of the bed, facing the wall.

"Why is it bad for us to be in Hell?" Angela asked, "We've been there before."

"I know." Kirishima replied, "So has your son. Whenever a mortal breaks through the dimensional walls, we know."

"So why can't you bring us?"

Kirishima turned and looked at Angela.

"I couldn't guaranty your safety, or his." She said softly, "Even I was once attacked by the soldier demons."

"But you're a demon."

"I'm half demon," Kirishima stated, looking at Angela. "And I'm half mortal. The soldier demons couldn't tell the difference."

"Couldn't?" Angela asked, "Meaning they can now?"

Kirishima nodded. "One attack was more then enough for the Queen to take action."

"The Queen." Angela murmured, "How exactly is there a Queen? I thought Lucifer ruled Hell."

"He does."

"Then how….?"

Kirishima smirked, "'Behind every great man, there is a woman.' Isn't that how the saying goes?" Kirishima sighed. "He hasn't actually ruled for sometime. Welsper, my teacher, tried to explain it to me. Best explanation I understood was that Lucifer found ruling Hell tiresome. He'd rather spend his time personally plotting against the world." She looked off towards the door. "Lately he's been consumed with getting revenge on your husband."

"John does have a way with people." Angela said with a sigh. She then gave the Demoness a curious look. "So….."

"Hmm?"

"Do you want us to keep calling you Kirishima?"

"That's my last name." Kirishima muttered, "In Japan, that's how you're referred to by most people. Only your friends and close associates can call you by your name."

"But we aren't in Japan are we?"

"No. We aren't."

Angela held out her hand.

"Call me Angela?"

The Demoness paused for a moment, before taking the offered hand.

"Mana."

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"Stupid fucking Demon." Constantine growled as he sat in the hotel's bar. "Tell me where I can and can't go."

"Sir?"

Constantine looked up to see the waitress looking at him curiously.

"Just pour me another drink." He growled.

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"Goddesses?" Angela repeated.

Mana nodded, "A whole Apartment load of them."

"But how…why are they there?"

"From what she told me, he mother came to grant her father a wish."

Angela nodded, "I've heard about that. John always scoffed at it. He said the Heavens pretty much ignored the Earth."

"Few people are worthy of a wish these days." Mana pointed out, "He was one of the worthy. He could have had anything he'd ever wanted. Money, girls, fame, power…… and he said he wished a girl like her would stay with him forever." Mana sighed. "They got married later, and then had Sayoko. They later died in a plane crash of all things, leaving her to be raised by her Aunt."

"So how do the Evangelions play into all this?"

Mana shrugged.

"I never really asked how she became a pilot. Was just one of those things best left unasked. I do know she and the other pilots went through Hell."

"So she's still on the Earth?"

"Living in Japan with her Aunt." Mana replied, "And occasionally visited by other deities."

"The Granddaughter of the Lord….." Angela murmured.

Mana blinked. "Hey now. She's Norse. That makes her Grandfather Odin, even if he's the same person as Jupiter, Zeus, Amon-Ra……. Damn it I always get forget his other names……."

"So there are others?"

Mana nodded.

"Every religion throughout history is represented in both Heaven and Hell."

"It must be quite crowded." Angela stated thoughtfully.

"Eh not really." Mana replied, "For the most part, the various religions don't mingle. Ideology's and such. Greek Gods hate the Roman gods for replacing them, Aztec, Mayan, and Inca gods watched their followers die, unable to do anything. Mortal wise, Heaven and Hell have no true boundaries. There's always room for more."

"What about your mother?"

The Demoness' face froze.

"Surely you've been able to see her?" Angela asked, "Or at least send her a message to her through your friend."

Mana suddenly rose to her feet.

"I think I'm going to need a drink." She murmured.

"I thought you were underage?" Angela asked.

Mana paused at the door, but didn't glance back.

"I doubt they'll card me." She left, closing the door behind her.

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Constantine knew exactly when she entered the bar. Everyone gave off a psychic signature, a mark they made on the world around them. Even the demons he fought, and the angels he loathed gave this off.

All except Kirishima.

To his physic feelers, she was a blank spot, a void in the normal fabric of time and space.

And she somehow decided to sit beside him.

"Largest glass of the best Draft beer you have here." She said to the bartender. As she suspected, he didn't even card her.

"Must make you feel special." Constantine grumbled.

"What?" the Demon asked.

"To walk into a bar and order exactly what you want." he replied, "Must be a demon thing."

"Sure it is." Mana grumbled as her drink arrived. She quickly took a large swig from it. "Just like it's a demon thing to have no living family, no friends, and no life……." She downed more of her beer. "No future."

Constantine frowned.

"You thinking of leaving? Returning to Hell?"

Mana snorted. "What for? Down there I'm an outcast." She sighed. "But then I'm an outcast here too."

Constantine's frown deepened. Something had happened to the Demoness since the time he'd left the hotel room. He wondered how Angela was.

"She's fine." Mana muttered, "I'm the one with the issues."

"If you don't mind me asking, Kirishima," he began, "What is your 'issue' and how did my wife drive you down here."

"Since when do you care?"

"Humor me."

Mana stared out over the bar.

"It wasn't her fault." The Demoness murmured, "She asked me something…….. personal."

Constantine raised an eyebrow. Mana stared at him from the corner of her eyes.

"She asked about my mother." She said softly.

"Ah. Family issues." Constantine murmured, "Since your mother was mortal, I assume she asked if your relationship continued after her death."

"You're too damn intelligent for your own good sometimes." Mana grumbled.

"So she did. And what was the answer?"

"She's not in Hell." The Demoness said, "So she must be in Heaven."

"Asked your friend about her?"

Mana shook her head.

"I wouldn't even think of asking her to……" her voice trailed off.

Constantine frowned.

"What is it?"

"Can't you feel it?" she asked.

Without another question, he sent out his psychic feelers.

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Angela sat on the bed, watching TV, and yet not seeing it. She was deep in thought, a young Demoness being the foremost thing on her mind.

She never noticed the black mist the seeped under the hotel room door.

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Constantine ran as fast as he could down the hall towards his hotel room. He rounded a corner and reached the door. His hands fumbled the keycard before he was finally able to slip it into the slot. Hearing the click, he flung the door open.

The room looked like it'd been through a fight.

A big one.

The table, chairs, lamps, all the furniture in the room had been shattered. Some blood was splattered across the wall. Something on the floor caught his attention. Kneeling down, Constantine picked up the object.

It was Angela's cross.

"It was demons," he said, "Wasn't it?"

"Yes." Came the expected reply.

"Why?" he asked.

"I don't know." The Demoness replied.

Constantine turned towards Mana as he rose.

"What do you mean you don't fucking know?" he snapped, "How could you not know?"

Mana threw her one good arm in the air.

"What would you like me to say?" she shouted, "They took her because she's your wife? Because Mammon possessed her? Maybe because she was one of those kids that burn-up ants with a magnifying glass. I don't know!"

Constantine started to raise his hand, clenched in a fist.

"What?" she shouted, "You want to hit me? Go ahead! Hit me! We'll get her back that much quicker if you hit me!"

Constantine closed his eyes, his hand continued to shake.

"Come on!" Mana snarled, "I'm a demon remember! Big bad and evil! Hit me! Hi…."

Mana suddenly found herself staring at the ceiling.

And she was experiencing some major pain in her jaw.

"Ow." Was the first word out of her mouth. Though that caused the pain to flare abit.

Constantine's face appeared above her. He looked her over a bit before speaking.

"You told me to." He finally said.

"So I did." She replied, her hand quickly moving up to hold her jaw. She slowly moved it, checking to see if it was broken. Then she looked at Constantine. "Feel better?"

"A bit." Constantine looked down at the cross in his hand.

"We'll get her back."

"How Kirishima?" Constantine growled, "We don't even know who has her."

"We don't." Mana replied, "But I know someone who might."

"Who?"

"You'll find out. Once we get there."

"Get where?"

Mana rose to her feet.

"Hell." She stated.

Constantine blinked.

"I thought it wasn't allowed?"

Mana growled. "I'm taking a major risk with my career here. Could you at least not be sarcastic to me?"

"Fine." Constantine said, "Any other requests?"

"Yeah. Call me Mana."

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The appeared in a ball of fire. Constantine looked around, noting the flames burning across the land. High above him, instead of sky, he saw a rock ceiling.

"Not to be a pain," He heard Mana say, "But could you release me now?"

In order to get into Hell, Constantine was forced to hold onto the Demoness. One might have called it a hug, but then Constantine and Mana probably would have killed the person who suggested that.

"Thank you." Mana replied as Constantine released her. She then looked around. Before teleporting into Hell, Mana had transformed into Demon outfit. Her facial markings had also appeared, and her eyes had changed to red. "Stay close."

"What for?"

Mana turned and glared at him.

"We are in Hell." Mana stated slowly and clearly, "The Demons here will not hesitate to kill you. If you stay close enough to me, they will sense only me."

"Because your half-mortal." Constantine said, understanding.

"Exactly."

The two walked hurriedly toward a large building. Constantine frowned.

"It's looks like the castle from Disneyworld." He muttered.

"It most definitely isn't the happiest place on Earth either." Mana replied, "Not unless your into pain, torture, hellfire….."

"Ok ok."

The walked in silence. Several times, Constantine turned as he heard a growl, but he failed to see what was created them. He glanced at Mana, but she ignored him, marching purposefully up towards the doors. They opened for her unhesitatingly. Constantine followed her inside and looked around. He'd have thought there would be guards of some kind, guarding the entrance. He asked Mana about that.

"Soldier Demons." Mana replied, "They guard that particular entrance."

"But…." Constantine began.

Mana stopped and whirled around.

"The only reason we got past them was because they recognize me." The Demoness said, "If it had only been you, they would have torn you apart." She quickly turned and resumed her walk. Constantine quickly followed.

Mana led him to a large statue. She paused to look around, before grabbing the statue's arm and lifting it up.

"You can't be serious." Constantine said as a hidden door opened.

"Deadly serious." Mana replied entering the secret passage. Constantine followed and Mana shut the door behind them. She led the way down the hall, then up several stairs before turning down yet another hall and opening a door. She looked out, then waved for him to follow.

Constantine looked around and found himself standing in one of the main hallways. Mana quickly led him to yet another door and opened it. He entered and found himself in a bedroom. From the color of the curtains and the bedspread, he determined it had to be a girl's bedroom.

"Yours?" he asked.

"Yes." Mana replied.

"Pink?"

"Don't. Ask." The Demoness growled. She then pointed at the floor. "Stay here. I'll be back."

"Wait a moment!" Constantine said, "I thought you told me I'd only be safe if I was with you. If you leave, won't they detect me?"

"No." Mana said, "Because they know this is my room. Even when I'm not here, they can still detect my……. Mortal presence." She turned and headed towards the door. "You are in the second most safest place in Hell." She said opening the door. "Just try and keep quiet and don't answer the door." She then left.

Constantine looked around the room.

"Safest place in Hell." He mocked, "Keep quiet and don't answer the door."

He walked over and looked out the window. From here, he could see far out across Hell. Not too far away, he could see a giant hole.

"The pits of Hell." He murmured.

He then turned back and looked at the room.

"Pink." He grumbled.

He never noticed the creature that entered the room on four feet.

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Mana walked quickly down the hallway, her cape billowing behind her. She turned and entered the main concourse. There, a large group of Demons were huddled before a set of massive doors, all seeking an audience with the Queen.

If there were this many in the hall, Mana knew there were many more inside, as well as members of the Royal Court.

Fortunately, there were ways around this.

Mana walked to a portion of the wall near the massive doors. She tapped a code into the wall, then stepped through it. A hallway was revealed, one that ran parallel to the Throne room. She hurried down to the end of the hall and stepped out into yet another Hallway. This one was free of Demons, save a few guards.

She quickly walked up to one of the guards and whispered into his ear. The Guard nodded, and vanished into the Throne room. Mana, meanwhile, walked through a different set of doors and entered the Queen's sitting room. Queen Hild entered moments later. Mana started to bow before her but found herself wrapped up in a hug.

"Oh Mana!" she cried out, "How are you feeling? I've been so worried about you!"

"I'm fine." Mana said, "What has that Demon told you?"

Hild frowned. "He has said nothing. Not even where his allegiance lies."

"Damn." Mana grumbled, "That makes the next thing more difficult."

"What thing?"

Mana sighed. "The mortal Angela Constantine has been abducted. I believe it was done by a Demon."

Hild nodded. "So I assume you are here to determine what Demon has her and where."

"Yes My Queen."

"That shouldn't be a problem." Hild said, starting towards the door. She paused and looked back. "Unless there's more?"

Mana nodded grimly. "There's more. Constantine was all set to follow me."

Hild's eyes flared at the mention of the mortal.

"Had he done so it would hurt his chances of finding his wife. I'm glad you talked him out of it."

"I didn't…..exactly….."

Hild's eyes went wide in shock and rage.

"MANA KIRISHIMA JUST WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?"

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Constantine dove over a table, just avoiding the claws that had attempted to scratch him. He quickly grabbed a chair and held it out from his body, the legs pointed at the vicious creature that had attacked him.

A black and white house cat.

The cat growled and hissed at Constantine, trying to bat the chair away. Constantine, meanwhile, was trying to find a token or holy water to drive the demonic cat off.

The door to the room then opened, admitting Mana, followed by a gorgeous platinum blond with a very revealing dress. The blond had demon markings on her face in the shape of stars. She also bore a resemblance to the goddess he had seen the other day.

"Mana Mana Mana," the Demoness said, holding her head, "I have no problems with you bringing boys into your room, but this is just disturbing…."

Mana's face went beet red.

"It's not like that! I'm not that perverted!"

The other Demoness raised an eyebrow.

"Then what was with all the moaning you did at night after you met Shinji?"

Mana's eyes went wide and her face went even redder.

"That….." she began, "Who….." Suddenly she turned her eyes on the cat. "JUST WHAT THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN TELLING HER!"

The Cat gave one final hiss at Constantine before looking at Mana.

"She wanted to know everything." The Cat replied.

Constantine abruptly sat on the floor and stared at the cat.

"It talks?" he mumbled.

"Yes," the cat replied, looking back at Constantine. "I talk and…." The cat was cut off as Mana grabbed it by the scruff of the neck. She glared deep into it's eyes.

"If you so much as tell her anything I say in my sleep again," Mana whispered, her voice low and deadly, "I will not only tell her what you've been moaning about, but who you're moaning for!"

The cat's mouth dropped open.

"You wouldn't dare!"

"So help me, I would!"

The cat sagged down, defeated. Constantine stared at the Demoness and cat, before turning his eyes to the Platinum blond. She'd watched the conversation with a slight sparkle in her eyes, but upon noticing him staring at her, they'd taken on a dangerous glow.

"Um, Mana?" Constantine said from where he sat. Mana's head snapped to him. "Who is that? And why does the cat talk?"

"John Constantine," Mana said, "Meet the Dark Mistress of Hell, her Royal Highness, Queen Hild."

Constantine simply nodded to her. Hild said nothing.

"And this furball is Welsper," Mana said, shaking the cat slightly by it's neck. "She was a demon, but he got a bit too frisky and was punished."

"Wait." Constantine said, raising his hand, "You said it's a she, but it was a he?"

Mana nodded. "Queen Hild gives out rather severe punishments."

"I see……" Constantine murmured, looking back at the still very annoyed Hild, "Umm… what did I do to annoy her may I ask?"

"For starters you shot Mana." Hild growled, "And very nearly killed her! You should thank whomever actually lets you worship them that Mana's friend knows first aid. If she had died…." Hild seemed to get a bit darker and taller, casting a black shadow on the room as her powers grew. "…. nothing would save you from me nor the Heavens."

For one of the few times in his life, Constantine actually gulped. Hild returned to normal, then looked to Mana.

"Meet me in the control room." She said, then left.

Mana waited a moment, then looked at Welsper.

"Stay here." She said, "And watch him. If anything happens, call me."

Welsper nodded. Mana set Welsper down, then walked over and held out her good hand to Constantine. He took it and allowed her to help him to his feet.

"Wait here." She said, "From the control room, we can tell when and if someone entered Hell, and what they brought with them. That way we can eliminate Hell as her location, and move to other means."

Constantine nodded. Mana started towards the door, when he stopped her with a question.

"Wouldn't it list you bringing me here?" he asked.

"No," Mana replied, "Because I brought you here." She then left.

Constantine frowned, pondering what she had said. Then he remembered.

"She's half-mortal and the system would only see her, not me." He said out loud. He sat in a chair and looked around the room. Welsper was now sitting on the bed, watching him.

"I don't suppose you'd be able to explain what the Queen meant about killing Mana?" Constantine asked, "Or is that because she's half mortal too?"

"There is much you obviously don't know." Welsper growled.

"Explain it to me then." Constantine replied, "Is it because Mana is like a daughter to the Queen? And why would Heaven care if a Demon was dead?"

"Because a God or Goddess would be dead as well." Welsper stated.

That caused Constantine to sit up quickly.

"What!"

"It's a balance." Welsper explained, "High level Demons such as myself and Mana are linked to a God or Goddess in Heaven. Should a God die, then a Demon dies with it. Because of a memory block, we do not know who our double is, and nor do they. We refer to this system as the Doublet system."

Constantine pondered this a moment.

"So had I killed Mana…….."

"A God would have died as well." Welsper finished, "And both sides would come looking for the one responsible. You."

Constantine shifted in his chair. No wonder all those people in Midnite's had been giving him dirty looks.

"It's a good thing she's alive then." He finally said.

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Angela awoke blindfolded, her arms and legs tied. A gag prevented her from making even the smallest of noises.

"She's awake My Lord." She heard a voice say.

"Excellent. I feared that she might have been damaged in coming here." A second voice said, "Mortals are such fragile creatures after all."

"Forgive me My Lord," the first said, "But why did we bring her here? We could have simply killed her."

"Ah, but you forget our plans." The second said, "If we simply killed her, Mammon wouldn't be implicated."

"I still don't understand why we're doing this to Lord Mammon. He wishes to bring damnation to the mortal world……."

"Mammon is an idiot. He only thinks of the mortals and how he wants to torture them for eternity. My way, we will rule over all of Hell, Earth, AND Heaven." His voice then got closer to Angela. "Of course my dear, you probably wonder why I even bother to say this around you. Quite simply, after Mammon finds you, and your Husband tries to rescue you, you won't live long enough to tell anyone."

He then let out a laugh, followed by the first voice.

Angela could only pray that he was wrong and John would find her.