Chapter 5
Hild and Mana stood silently over the table display, watching as data scrolled past them at high speed. Around them, Demon hackers worked at their workstations, wrecking havoc on Yggdrasil, or on the mortal world, one did not know.
And Mana really didn't want to ask.
"This is rather tedious." Hild muttered, her eyes flicking over screen.
"Who else would you trust to do this." Mana replied.
"True." Hild replied, "How's the shoulder?"
"Stings. Maybe I should go to Sayoko and have her heal it."
Hild chuckled. "I still don't get how you two can become that close."
Mana shrugged, "Must be a half-mortal thing." Suddenly her right hand came out and pointed at a line of data. The screen halted accordingly.
"There." She said, "A mortal was detected in the presence of a Demon about twenty minutes before I arrived with Co….him."
Hild frowned and entered a command into the table. The table display flickered a moment, then brought up a window.
"What the….." Hild reentered the command. Again the window flashed at her.
"Someone's been fucking with the system." Hild growled, "I can't bring up the identity of the Demon."
"No," Mana said, "It was there. Someone erased it."
"Impossible." Hild said, "No one in Hell has the access to do that but me."
Mana slowly raised her head.
"Yes," she said softly, "Someone else does. Actually, two Demons."
Hild frowned, then it clicked.
"Lucifer." She murmured, "and his brat Mammon."
"It's got to be Mammon." Mana said, "Lucifer wouldn't bother trying to hide what he was doing."
"No, he wouldn't." Hild stared at the table display, "Direct the scans towards Mammon's palace. I want to know what that troll is up to."
Mana nodded and entered the command into the table. A moment later, Hild and Mana were staring wide eyed at each other.
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Angela jumped as a door opened and footsteps entered, wherever she was.
"What'ssss thisss?" a voice asked. The voice set off an old memory in Angela.
"We found her here Milord." Another voice replied, "We have no idea how she got here."
"Sssimpleton." The first voice snapped. Then the blindfold was removed from her face.
As Angela's eyes adjusted to the light in the room, she saw who had removed the blindfold, confirming what her memory of the voice already had.
Mammon stood before her, glaring at her with his red eyes.
"It issss Consssstantin'sssss bitch." Mammon growled. He then looked at the other demon present in the room. "Check the other roomsssss. Consssstantine musssst be here asssswell."
"Yes Milord." The demon bowed and hurried off.
Mammon leaned back in close to Angela. She shut her eyes, praying desperately that he'd leave her alone.
"I don't know how you got here." Mammon said, "But I never turn down a gift."
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"I'm sorry," Constantine said, "Could you repeat that? In plain English. You found Angela, but……"
Hild rolled her eyes while Mana spoke.
"Basically Mammon has got himself an Army." She said, "He's got maybe a fourth of the Demon population there. Around his Palace, and Angela is smack in the middle."
Constantine shrugged. "So? I mean if they're anything like Ellie and Balthazar….."
Mana shook her head.
"Constantine listen to me, these aren't low class Demons. We're talking about Class 1 and 2s."
Constantine shrugged.
"They are high level demons." Hild growled, "Mana is a class 2. She's got enough power to level a continent."
"First Class could vaporize the world." Mana added.
"He's got more then enough power in that army to destroy Earth, and anything within several trillion light-years of it." Hild added.
Constantine frowned.
"What could he be planning with that size of an army?" he wondered out loud. He glanced at Hild. "Could he try and overthrow you?"
Hild shook her head. "If he did, he'd have to answer to Lucifer. Besides, My force is three times the size of his. Plus it'd get the attention of Heaven."
"How?"
"Doublet System." Welsper said from where he was sitting on the bed.
"Right." Constantine replied, "Suppose he attacked Heaven? You know the whole end of the world thing?"
"Doublet System still in effect." Mana replied.
"And he's still outnumbered." Hild added, "Plus Heaven has their Valkyries."
"Right the Valkyries." Constantine repeated, "I've read the Norse legends. I suppose they'd bring the honored dead from Valhalla?"
Hild rolled her eyes again. "I'm not getting into a theological discussion with a person I'd rather see roasting over a spit. Just believe me when I say the Valkyrie have more then earned their reputation."
"Right." Constantine said, "So how do we go about getting my wife back from the little basterd?"
"Regardless what he's done," Hild said, "He still is the son of Lucifer."
"So get him to deal with it."
"We…..can't"
"Why the Hell not!" Constantine shouted, "You run Hell for him! Don't you know where he is!"
"No." Hild replied, "We don't."
Constantine ran hand through his hair. "That's just fucking great. So now what do we do? I'm not slitting my wrists to get the attention of him again."
"You don't have to." Mana replied, "Because I'm going over there to get her back."
Hild turned and looked at Mana slightly shocked. Constantine stared at the young Demoness as well.
"How?" he asked, "Are you just going to walk in there and ask for her back?"
"Something like that." Mana replied.
Hild's frown grew deeper. She grabbed Mana by her good arm and pulled her towards the door.
"Excuse us," she said to Constantine and Welsper, "I need to have a small talk with this one."
The two entered the hall and the door closed. Almost immediately Hild's voice started yelling in Demonic. Constantine blinked.
"What's that about?" he asked the Cat.
Welsper sighed. "You have no understanding of Demons do you."
"What the Hell are you talking about." Constantine growled, "I've sent more of your kind back to Hell then…."
"You've dealt with Low Level Demons." Welsper snapped back, "High Level is different."
"How different?"
"What Mana plans on doing to fighting Mammon to get your wife back." Welsper replied, "She's going to call him out."
Constantine blinked. "That's crazy! She's injured! She could even be killed!"
"Which is exactly what the Queen is telling her." Welsper listened for a moment, his ears turned towards the door. "It's not working though. She's rather stubborn at times."
The two reentered a moment later.
"Alright." Mana said, looking at Constantine, "Let's go."
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Mana and Constantine slowly approached Mammon's palace. Not surprisingly, Mara and Welsper followed, both having been sent by Hild to observe.
As they grew closer, Mana reached up and removed her sling. She then began to slowly flex her left arm, wincing several times as she moved her shoulder.
"As you sure you should be doing this?" Constantine asked.
"You of all people know Demons exploit weaknesses." Mana muttered.
"Not your arm," Constantine said, "This. Calling Mammon out. Not that I mind the idea of him loosing a limb or two, but you could get killed."
Mana smirked.
"Why John Constantine, do you actually care about what happens to a demon like me?"
Constantine blinked. "Ah no…. of course not. I could care less what happens to you. I was thinking of your doublet."
Mana nodded her head, but her smirk remained.
"I don't plan on dying." She replied, "As to my doublet, she's been in worse scrapes."
"What?" Constantine asked, stunned, "You know who your doublet is? I didn't think that was allowed."
"It isn't." Mana replied, "But we're both keeping silent about it." She looked back up at the palace. "I think we've been spotted."
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"Milord!"
Mammon turned from where he was reacquainting himself with Angela.
"Have you found Conssssstantine?"
"He's approaching the Palace." The Demon replied, "Lady Mara and Lady Mana approach with him."
Mammon growled. "The half-breed? What doessssss sssshe want?" He turned and stared at Angela.
"Ahh," he said, "Perhapsssss I already know."
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The group paused before the massive doors of Mammon's palace. Constantine looked at the doors, then looked over at the demons.
"Do we knock, walk in, or what?" he asked.
"We wait." Mana replied.
"For what?"
The doors opened at that moment. Exiting were a dozen Demon Guards, two holding Angela between them. Mammon followed a moment later.
"Ahhhh Conssstantine." Mammon growled, "How nice to ssssee you again."
"Mammon." Constantine replied, "I hope your ass feels good because I'm about to kick it."
"Mammon." Mana said, silencing Constantine with a look, "I have come for the mortal."
"Ssssshe is not yoursssss to take." Mammon snarled, "Ssssshe was a presssent to me."
"She isn't yours to have." Mana stated.
"You will not have her." Mammon growled.
Mana held out her hand. A sword appeared within it.
"Then I'll take her." she growled before charging.
Mammon dodged the charge and pulled out his own sword. With a loud crash, steel meet steel and the fight began.
From the start, Constantine knew Mana was in trouble.
She was skill with the sword, there wasn't any doubt about it. But her shoulder wound made it difficult for her to use her left arm in strikes. She was also slow in responding to attacks from her left side. Even more unfortunate, Mammon had noticed these things as well, and was directing more and more stronger attacks against Mana's left side.
Mana seemed to be tiring as well, constantly using her right arm to make up for the left's weakness. Mammon began to make it through her defenses, once barely missing her head, the second time leaving a long slash on her right bicep. Then with a yell, Mammon lowered his shoulder and slammed into her, sending her sword flying, and her tumbling to the ground. She started to rise but stopped, feeling the point of a sword on her neck.
"It endssss now, Half-breed" Mammon hissed. He then tightened his grip on the sword. "You do not dessserve to live." He started to raise his sword up.
"You can't!" Mara shouted, "The Doublet system!"
"I don't care!" Mammon cried out, "Let the war againssst the Heavenssss begin!"
He started to drive the sword downward when a blade pressed itself hard against his neck.
"Now Mammon," Constantine said softly as he held Mana's sword against the Demon's throat. "It's not nice to pick on someone smaller then you."
"How dare you interfere!" Mammon growled. He glanced at his guards to find them frozen in place, wanting to get the mortal that dared to threaten their boss, but not wanting their boss to become dead.
"I don't remember anyone saying I couldn't help Miss Kirishima there." Constantine replied, "And if it is cheating…….. well you Demons are always finding ways around the system aren't you?"
Mammon remained silent.
"Release my wife." Constantine demanded, pressing the blade a bit deeper into Mammon's neck. "Now."
Mammon felt a trickle of blood run down his neck. He hated this. Losing to Constantine again!
"Release her." Mammon ordered.
The guards released Angela, who quickly ran to where Mara and Welsper were helping Mana from the ground.
"Good boy." Constantine said, "Now be a good puppy and stay."
Constantine stepped away from Mammon and walked back to where the others were standing.
"I didn't need your help." Mana growled.
"Of course you didn't." Constantine replied.
"I had him right where I wanted him."
"Sure you did."
"I could have defeated him."
"Yes you could have."
Mana looked away.
"Thanks." She grumbled.
"Don't mention it." Constantine replied, "Ever."
"Can we go home now?" Angela asked.
"Sure," Mara said, "We just have to….."
A yell startled them. Mammon charged at Constantine, his sword raised and ready to plunge into the mortals chest. Constantine started to raise his arms in a futile effort to stop the blade. Behind him, Mana started moving to block Mammon. Angela was screaming, while Mara shouted a warning.
Then time began to slow down to a stop.
Mammon's charge ended with the demon's sword just inches from Constantine's chest. Constantine let out a long breath as he realized just how close to death he had come. Then something slammed into him, sending him to the ground.
"What the….?" Constantine rolled over to find Mana beside him. "What the hell are you doing?"
"Saving your life." Mana replied, "Now stand back while I…." Her voice trailed off as Constantine pointed.
"I don't think you did that."
Mana turned her head and looked. Her eyes went wide as she took in the sight of a frozen Mammon, his face still one of rage. Angela's mouth was open in a silent scream. Mara seemed to be in the middle of casting a force bolt, and Welsper seemed to be hiding behind the older Demoness.
"Why aren't they moving?" Mana asked slowly. She turned back to Constantine who was looking at his watch.
"Time stopped." He said, holding out his watch. Sure enough, the second hand was frozen in place.
"But if time is frozen," Mana began, "Why are you moving? Why am I moving? Who…."
Constantine sighed as Mana rambled questions. Then he spotted the steaming oily foot prints on the ground.
"Mana," Constantine murmured, "Your Boss is here."
"Huh?" Mana whirled around to find herself face to face with the person who ruled over all of Hell and the Demons within it, even Hild.
Lucifer.
Mana quickly dropped to her knee.
"Milord." She said softly.
Lucifer smirked. "At least you have proper manners half-breed. Perhaps there's hope for you yet."
Mana wisely said nothing.
Lucifer glanced over at Constantine.
"Why John," he said, "What brings you to my domain? Checking out housing for your future arrival?"
"Actually I was getting my wife back from your son." Constantine replied, "Of course you knew he had her taken."
"Of course." Lucifer said, frowning slightly.
"This is the second time he's gone after her." Constantine pointed out, "You think he has a ting for mortal women?"
"He should know better then that." Lucifer snarled. He then glanced at the still kneeling Mana. "Of course we know what dabbling in mortals can bring."
For some reason, Constantine found the Dark Lords comments directed at Mana very insulting. It angered him to see the Demoness treated like that. Yet the Demoness herself seemed unfazed by them.
"So what brings you here?" Constantine asked, "Finally reigning in Junior?"
"Sadly yes," Lucifer replied, "While I little care what he does, causing a war with Heaven isn't on my agenda……yet." He glanced at Mana. "While we'd lose only a half-breed, the Heavens would lose a God, and would not be very pleased."
"Speaking of which," Constantine said, "I know you stopped time so we could have this little talk, but what about her? Why isn't she frozen?"
"A slight quirk in the system." Lucifer replied with a sigh. "Apparently none of the Time deities are affected when I stop time. Not the Goddesses of the Present, Past, Future, or Forever." He then glanced at Mana. "Nor is the Demoness of time."
Mana looked up curiously. Constantine looked at Mana, then back at Lucifer.
"She's a Demon Fate?" he asked.
"Yes, sadly." The Dark Lord said, "What one, I could care less. We demons don't bother with such titles. Power, prestige, rank, that is what we hunger for." He then turned to his son. "Which reminds me."
Time suddenly restarted. Mammon fell forward, slamming the blade of his sword deep into the earth. Angela stopped screaming and looked around, confused as to where her husband had just vanished to. Mara and Welsper both noticed Lucifer right away and fell to their knees (or whatever Welsper has as a cat). Mammon's demonic guards also fell to their knees before the Dark Lord.
Mammon stood up and noticed Lucifer.
"Father," he began.
"Enough." Lucifer said, cutting Mammon off with a glare. "You obviously have learned little since your escapade with Gabriel. You realize what you could have done?"
"Father I…."
"Fool! You could have started a war!" Lucifer roared, "It is not yet time for my rise. Until then you will learn obey me!"
The Dark Lord raised his hand. Mammon screamed as his body seemed to implode into itself before vanishing with a pop. He then turned to Mara.
"Demoness Mara." He said, "Get these…… mortals out of here. And take the Half-breed with you."
"Yes Milord." Mara replied.
Lucifer then turned to Constantine.
"I will see you again John." he growled.
"Until then," Constantine said, "And in case you didn't understand me last time, I'll give it to you in stereo." He raised both hands and flipped the Dark Lord a double bird.
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Angela and Constantine sat alone in their hotel room staring at the TV, but not. Their minds kept going back to the events of the last several days, as well as what was to happen the next day.
Their son's funeral.
"Tomorrow is going to suck." Constantine grumbled.
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Hild stood on her balcony, looking out over Hell. Smoke rose in the distance where Mammon's palace had stood. For a second time, a mortal had dared to insult the Dark Lord. Mammon's palace had been the target of his rage afterward.
She sensed him even before he appeared.
"I suppose Lord Mammon will need a new palace now?" she asked.
"My son can stay in the eighth ring of Hell for all I care." Lucifer growled, "Because of him, Constantine has gotten the better of me again."
The two were silent for several long moments.
"I do see what you mean about her." Lucifer finally said, "There is a hidden strength within Mana." He turned to face the Queen. "One that could be used for us, or against."
"Despite what you think," Hild stated, "Mana is a Loyal Demon. She will do whatever I say."
"The girl is more mortal then Demon." Lucifer growled, "Why should she listen to you?"
"Because," Hild said softly, looking back out across Hell, "I'm the only family she has left."
"Have you forgotten about her?" Lucifer asked, emphasizing 'her'.
"No." Hild replied, "I haven't. But then we've heard nothing from her since her banishment."
"Things change." Lucifer snapped.
"Yes, they do." Hild replied, "What of the Army Mammon was creating?"
"It's been dispersed." Lucifer replied, "We have no need to fear an uprising."
Hild only nodded. Lucifer looked back out over Hell.
"Take care of her Hild," Lucifer said, "One day, that little half-breed will have more power then even me." He then vanished.
Hild never took her eyes from the view.
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"It will be soon now."
"Lucifer disbanded Mammon's army. How can it be soon?"
"He disbanded them, but they have joined other units. Now we control even more Demons then Mammon did."
"So how long….."
"I have to take a small trip to Tokyo-3. While I'm away, pick out the best Demons you have. I might have a job for you when I get back."
"Yes my Lord."
"Don't worry Draco. You'll have your war soon enough."
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The dark clouds over the cemetery. They, and the rain that fell, only added to the mood that hovered over a particular gravesite.
'Wonder why it always rains at funerals?' Constantine thought as he watched his only son's casket being lowered into the ground. Beside him, Angela stood silent, tears running down her cheeks. Surrounding the grave were others, mostly people that Mark or Constantine had helped at one time or another. Surprisingly Midnite had come out of his bar to pay his respects. He'd only stayed for a bit, then invited Constantine and Angela back to the bar for drinks.
Soon the funeral was over, and now Angela and Constantine were left alone, staring at the coffin now laying deep in the earth. Nearby, workmen waited to begin the task of filling the grave.
"Let's go." Constantine said softly.
He slowly led Angela out of the cemetery. Behind them, workmen began to fill the grave. They paused though when they noticed someone walking towards them. It was a college aged girl in a dark jacket over a black dress. The rain had dampened her auburn head, causing it to hang limply from her head and shoulders. She walked up to the grave and glanced at the workers. They quickly backed away, allowing her a moment alone. She looked down at the coffin.
"I don't know why I'm here." She murmured, "I didn't know you, even though you knew me. Or at least, thought you knew me." She gave a slightly chuckle. "I'm not even sure if I know myself." She sighed. "I do know you were one of the good ones, probably one of the few who could have understood me if you'd had the chance. But we'll never know will we?"
She reached into her jacket and pulled out a lily. She then tossed it onto the coffin.
"Enjoy paradise. You earned it." She then turned and walked away.
The workmen started back to the grave. Thunder rumbled over head. A workmen paused to look up at the sky, then looked to where the girl had been walking away.
He found nothing.
The girl had vanished.
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Surprisingly for early afternoon, the bar was already hoping. Loud music met their ears as Constantine and Angela approached the bouncer. Again, he let them through without raising a tarot card. Midnite met them as they entered the bar.
"Welcome." He said, greeting them with open arms.
"Nice party." Constantine noted.
"Yes well," Midnite looked back over the bar, "There are few tears being shed over Mammon's current situation."
The three started towards the back. Angela cocked her head slightly as the music played.
"….is that?" she asked.
Midnite nodded and pointed to a corner.
"Yes, it is 'Devil came to Georgia'."
In the corner, a band of dubious origins was playing away. Standing near by, playing away on a violin was Mana Kirishima.
"She plays good." Midnite said, "Scary thing is this is the third time they've played it today." He glanced at Constantine and Angela. "And it's been the Angels requesting it, not that the demons mind." He then nodded towards the bar. "And then there's those two."
Sitting at the bar, drinks in hand and singing along were the platinum haired Goddess Urd, and the Demoness Mara. Both seemed very drunk.
Midnite led them back to his office and walked over to the wet bar and made three drinks. He handed two to Angela and Constantine before grabbing the third.
"To Mark." Midnite toasted.
The three were quiet for several moments.
"What will you do now?" Midnite asked.
"We have a few last things to do before we go." Constantine replied, "Tie up a loose end or two from Mark. Then back to New York."
"I doubt you'll stay there long." Midnite replied.
"What makes you say that?" Angela asked.
Before Midnite could reply, the door to his office opened, allowing Mana to enter. Her left arm was back in a sling.
"I thought you said it was better." Midnite said.
"It was." Mana replied, "But I just played my violin for the third time in the last few hours. You know how much it kills to keep your arm in one position?"
"True." Midnite agreed.
"I just wanted to let you know I'm heading back to my dorm. Just in case another encore is called on, you have a reason to deny it."
Midnite nodded. Mana then turned to Constantine.
"If you expect me to…." He said.
"I don't expect anything." Mana replied, "I really didn't have anything to say to you."
"Then we're even?" Constantine asked.
Mana tapped her chin as she thought.
"No." she replied.
The next thing Constantine felt was her fist as it slammed into his jaw. He stumbled back a bit, grabbing his jaw. The coppery taste of blood filled his mouth. He spat a blob onto the carpet.
"Are we even now?" he asked.
"Not even close." Mana replied as she drew back for a kick.
Pain filled Constantine's mind, and stars literally appeared within his vision before it all went black.
Mana paused a moment, looking down at Constantine.
"Feel better now?"
Mana looked up to see Angela's stern face. Immediately she felt guilty.
"Until right this moment," Mana replied, "Yes."
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Days later.
Mana exited the math hall and headed down the sidewalk towards her dorm. The sling was now gone, though she did have some remaining stiffness to work out in her shoulder. The scar from the bullet didn't look all that bad now, at least that's what Chiyo kept telling her. A few more weeks, and it would be totally gone. Too bad the memories wouldn't go as well.
She was just approaching the spot where she'd been shot when a figure stepped out of the shadows.
It was Constantine.
"Are you going to shoot me again?" she asked.
Constantine held up his hands, empty.
"You're not going to kick me are you?"
"Depends." Mana replied. She began walking again. Constantine put his hands into his coat pocket and walked along beside her.
"What brings you here?" Mana asked, "I figured we were done."
"So did I." Constantine replied, "But Angela thought otherwise."
"Oh?"
Constantine looked up towards the sky.
"Midnite talked to us while I was ……icing my injury." He said with a slight glare. "He seems to think Lucifer isn't done with me yet."
"You've insulted him." Mana stated, "Made him look foolish twice now. He can't let that go."
"I'm not worried about me. I'm worried about Angela."
Mana frowned and looked at him curiously.
"I know I'm not a Saint." Constantine said, "But Angela is hardly a Devil. Should anything happen to me……"
"I'll keep an eye on her." Mana said softly, "As long as I am able, I will see no Demon cause her any harm."
Constantine nodded.
"Thank you." He turned and started to walk away.
"Constantine."
He glanced back.
"What Kirishima?"
Mana smirked.
"You know this doesn't change anything between us. I'm only letting you get off easy this time."
Constantine felt a slight pain coming from his neither region.
"If that was easy," he said, "I'd hate to find out what hard is. Until next time Kirishima."
"Call me Mana."
"Only if you'll call me John."