Islay, Scotland
The Brigade arrived at their destination, their spirits were tired and their flesh was aching from the battle with the leviathan. Their boat was in bad shape a swell and was not likely to be able to make the trip back, but none of that mattered.
A teenage Scot couple saw the strangers as they arrived, looking very ominous and out of place, they walked to the village center where a quaint little Inn stood in a cobblestone covered square.
Again as they walked into the lobby which was also the cafe and pub, their appearance brought them unwanted attention.
"We need four room." said Jason Bauer as he slammed a stack of Pounds down on the reception counter.
The Inn's owner, an old strapping man capable of grinding virtually anyone without breaking a sweat, looked at them in suspicion.
"Where are you from?" he asked.
"We came from New York. On a boat if you're wondering."
"Well what are ye doing 'ere?"
John smirked, "We're here for the sheep."
"The Fuck is wrong with you!"
The owner seemed prepared to pound on all four, but Giles intervened, "Sorry about my friend, sir. We're very fatigued and wish to rest at once."
Giles' attempts to smooth out the suspicion failed as the patrons started inching towards them.
"There is no cause for violence." said Cartaphilus.
"You don't think so?" asked a waitress, "We wish to know business a yank, a patty a limey and a git are doing 'ere. It's not Loch Ness so spell it out."
"No reason to be inhospitable, Gladys. They are here for me."
All eyes turned to the man who spoke, a man of ninety who sat by himself at a table in the corner, merely five feet tall and with brilliant blue eyes, he had an apparent sense of dignity and warmth. And obviously revered by all.
"Sorry, Alestir." apologized the owner, "We didn't know."
"That's alright, Roy."
The owner turned to the four and smiled, "You'll 'ave to forgive us, Gents. We don't have much of visitors in these parts."
"No problem." muttered John. The atmosphere then seemed to return to as it was before they came, everyone forgot about them.
They head to the old man, Alestir, and sat at his table.
"You are the men who came to slay the beast, right?"
They all exchanged a look.
"You can say that. " said John, "I'm C-"
"John Constantine." said Alestir, "And you are Rupert Giles, and you are Jason Bauer, and you are Cartaphilus the Wanderer. I know who you are."
"That's good."
"Let me first tell you my story. I was a solider in the allied forces in World War II, We were stationed in North Africa, actually. One day I was shot and left to bleed, unable to move. And while I laid there under the hot sun, dying, an Angel appeared to me, she said I must live past my time to fulfill a mission. I had to live in this coastal town of Scotland and wait till a day when a group of cloaked foreigners emerge from the sea and arrive to slay the beast that dwells in a cave in these highlands. And here I am."
"How did you know who we were?"
"I have my contacts, Son."
"So where is the beast?"
Alestir took out a napkin and drew an abstracts map to the cave in question.
"Along the way you will encounter demon guards, bent on stopping you, as you can imagine. They're dumb brutes and some of the natives have killed a few in the past, but they're vicious, so be careful and wise."
"What is the beast?"
Alestir paused and smiled, "That's for you to find out and for us to never know."
"What about the Angels?" asked Constantine, "If we kill the beast, what will they do?"
"I'd imagine they'd be upset. But believe me, once you take care of the Beast, you won't have to worry about them."
Alestir looked at the clock and stood up, "Now, Gentlemen. I'm rather tired and wish to retire to bed. Goodnight."
Alestir left the Inn and the Brigade soon scrambled, Jason went to the bar, Cartaphilus walked outside, Giles started talking to the bar patrons and John stroked the key, contemplating what lay ahead.
In a few hours the clock turned eleven and the Brigade turned in to collect on a much needed night of peaceful rest.
But rest they did not do, as it is hard to sleep when you're on an island where a terrible monster has slept from the beginning of man's time.
Cartaphilus bent his pillow for the tent time in an hour trying to find a more comfortable position. But he couldn't, then suddenly he heard a call.
"O Cartaphilus."
The voice was androgynous and in a whisper. He slowly raised his head and beheld an Angel.
A beautiful, silver haired, fallen angel, it resembled a woman and spoke quietly, "I am Carnivean the Oracle, formerly of the Powers."
"I bet you are."
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Giles had managed to fall asleep and was dreaming of being devoured by sharks when he heard the whisper.
"O Rupert."
He shot up in bed and beheld the angel that faced him, he put on his glasses and his jaw dropped as he was able to see the Angel clearly, her hair beautiful auburn.
"I am Zagiel the Poet, formerly of the Archangels."
"Good grief!"
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Constantine wasn't even caught of guard with the whisper, he had felt someone appear in his room.
"O Jonathan."
He slowly looked at the Angel with brown hair, "My name is Agares, the Physician. Formerly of the Virtues."
"Whoop-De-Do."
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Jason had swallowed several valumes, as his Demon nature was too strong to be put to sleep by the usual dosage, he slept for a few minutes without any dreams till the Whisper was uttered.
"O Jason."
The whisper was very soft yet it woke him from his drug induced sleep like a grenade exploding three feet away from him. Alarmed, he shot up in bed and his hand found its way to gun which he aimed at the Angel that stood in the middle of the room.
"I am Iuvart the Hunter." the black haired Angel said, "Once of the ninth choir of Angels."
"Fuck me, I think Y'are."
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Cartaphilus stared intently at Carnivean, contemplating if he could take out the Angel or not.
"I know what you're thinking; you're thinking: That Angel is a very easy target, sitting there a helpless as a baby, when it fell out of the Lord's grace she lost most of her power, but is the little that's let enough to resist my magic? And my answer is, Yes. That and the fact that right now I'm non-corporial, I'm a ghost."
Carnivean then pushed his/her palm through one of the walls and it passed through.
"I didn't come to fight, Wanderer. That's for demons to do. Like your friend Jason Bauer, tell me, do you really think he is to be trusted?"
"He's not just a demon."
"Correct, his half-demon only, the other half being human, so tell me..."
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"...does that make him less likely towards error?"
Giles starred intently at Zagiel.
"You're forgetting you're talking to a human."
"I haven't, but tell me really, have you not seen men serve the forces of darkness in the past? All those years as a Watcher and you've not witnessed anything like that?"
Giles drifted to the memory of several such men, including a southern preacher in a little Calefornia town two years ago.
"I'm not denying it."
"And besides Mr Bauer, look at the others, the coward who betrayed the son of god, who didn't bare the idea of the Christ having a seconds rest for one second. Can you trust such a man?"
"That was a long time ago."
"Time can pass again and again, but still leave most things unchanged. What about the Exorcist? Have you no idea about he sins he committed? Did he tell you of a little innocent girl he sent to hell on the count of his own arrogance and ignorance?(1)"
"Shut up!"
"What would Buffy think of you, Giles. What would she do if she knew the kind of men you worked with these days."
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"It's not going to work." said Constantine calmly, "You're trying to be Yoko Ono and turn us on each other, but it won't work. Not on me."
Agares' face didn't twitch a muscle, "I commend your strength of faith. Must be hard trusting Demons and Immortal sinners."
"I do my best."
"Must be hard to keep the trust in god, after he had forgiven you he had condemned you to hell, just like that."
"That's it..."
"And Gabriel(2)," continued Agares, "She was determent to start an apocalyptic holocaust, but even she was forgiven. It has to make a man question his beliefs."
John stood up and went to punch Agares, but his fist through the angel like a rock through fog.
"Remember, I'm not really here."
"Better get out then."
"But really, John, how does it make you feel to have to trust a Demon holding the key to hell?"
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"None of them trust you." said Iuvart and looked out the window.
"Really? I'm shocked." said Jason mockingly as he lit a cigarette.
"Ungrateful aren't they? You risked your life when you infiltrated the Order, then narrowly dodged their attacks, suffered from a spell cast by Cartaphilus and still managed to continue the journey. And then you fought bravely infornt of them, killing scores of your friends for their kind, then slew THE Leviathan. And after all that, they still see you as a half-breed demon. Why bother?"
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"Do you know that Constantine was once admitted into heaven? That's true; he committed self sacrifice, was allowed into heaven and then was resurrected. Then After one year he blew it! Can you believe it? Now look at you, For two thousand years, you were forced to wander the earth, defending the helpless, fighting for god. Don't you think you've earned your rest?"
"You've said you piece, now what do you want?" asked Cartaphilus.
"I have a deal for you." said Carnivean.
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"I think you should go." Giles said.
"Not before I present my offer." said Zagiel.
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"Kiss my Arse, Angel." scoffed Jason.
"I think I'd rather make you an offer you mustn't refuse."
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"Fuck off." Constantine shouted.
"I'll make you a deal Constantine. If you help us tomorrow, you will be made Immortal. And little Astra Logue, do you remember her? Astra will be released from Hell, she'll be allowed into heaven as will Nigel Archer(3), and all the others suffering from your mistake."
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"Help us tomorrow, and you will be allowed to rest. Your soul would not suffer the fires of hell one bit." said Canivean. Cartaphilus couldn't help but gasp.
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"Help us tomorrow, and your Girls and friends will be spared, you can't stop us. So join us." said Zagiel. Giles couldn't say a thing.
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"We know you hate being Human, Jason Bauer. Help us and not only will we purge you of your Humanity. But you will be a King in Hell."
Jason couldn't come up with a rude, vulgar and snappy comeback.
Iuvaet then asked,
"Do..."
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"..you..."
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"..accept..."
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"Our Offer?"
Author's Notes:
(1) Astra Logue is a girl John did not only failed to save, but condemned her to hell. Red 'Vol2'
(2) Gabriel died in my Firse fic and became an Angel again. Read 'Vol1'
(3) Nigel Archer is a character form the Hellblazer comics, featured in my first fic in the series. A Friend of John, is condemned to Hell after overdosing on drugs. Read 'Vol1'