Part XVI: Misconception

Angela felt like a dog trotting up the brick drive behind John. He reached the door first, and stepped aside to hold it for her, and she felt a feminist comment rise in her throat. It quickly died, however, as she took in his tense rigidity—more rigid than even the usual for John Constantine. She did, however, regard him with a dark glance as she stepped over the threshold and into the house. Adila Abatyan was standing a couple feet in front of them and smiling in a faux-pleasant manner.

"Miss Dodson," Adila greeted, "Mr. Constantine. Both of you, please, sit."

Angela smiled tentatively and took a prim seat on the edge of a white-wicker loveseat in the parlor. John stayed standing. Adila smiled, and sat down across from Angela.

"Now. What are these questions you have for me?"

"Oh, god," Jade breathed as she looked at the little girl, whose pale eyes were wide with shock, and whose wisp of blonde hair was matted in a sickening red liquid, "Oh…oh…god..." The child lay splayed on the concrete, arms straight out on either side, feet hooked together at the ankles. Deep gashes were strewn across her frail body—five, in all, Jade noted curiously—and blood welled in them—from her wrists, her ankles, and her left side. The mother still screamed-an endless moan of the type Jade was eerily sure she'd heard somewhere else.

"What…what is this?" Jade whispered to nobody, "Why does this look so…familiar?"

"The crucifixion." Chas answered Jade softly, "Christ on the cross…the marks of the nail and spear included."

Jade looked as though she was about to faint, and Chas reached out an arm to support her. She turned to him suddenly, her hand on her necklace and her dark eyes flashing.

"It's wrong." She whispered, fingering her amulet, "It's wrong."

Chas was confused, "Yes…it is wrong. We should go."

"No!" Her tone was fervent, "The crucifixion…it's wrong…this is—this is wrong."

Chas nodded, still confused, "Let's go."

The mother's blue eyes flashed an icy glare. She stopped screaming to let out a huge gasping sob, and turned to the two teenagers with the soft calm of someone who has nothing left to live for.

"You did this!" Her voice was low and threatening. Chas shook his head and tried to lead Jade back to the car.

"God—" The mother stopped, and let out a strangled, choking sound, "Go—you! You did this!"

Chas gave the mother a pitying look, but continued to back away, pushing Jade gently into the taxi. The mother leapt, her fingers curled into claws scraping against the window.

I need to find John. Was the only thought fluttering through Chas's mind, once we find John, everything will be fine. He gunned the engine and put the car into a twirling reverse, driving fast, and reckless, and most importantly, away.

"Prophecy of Laodicea." John spit out, unable to deal with pleasantries. Adila raised an eyebrow in perfect imitation of his younger sister, and poured a cup of tea for Angela.

"And why, my dear Mr. Constantine, would such a prophecy interest you?" She whispered, handing him his own cup of tea.

"What do you know about it?" John answered the question with one of his own, and set the tea down carelessly on an end table next to him.

Adila stirred a cube of sugar into her own tea, and, after a pregnant pause, pursed her lips and spoke, "Do you know the Bible, Mr. Constantine?"

"Of course I know the Bible."

"Not, do you know of the Bible, but do you know the Bible?"

John paused to think about this, before replying, "Enough."

"Laodicea was a church. The last Church, as mentioned in Revelations." Adila sipped her tea, and waited for him to continue.

"Fascinating," John muttered, "Could you, by any chance, tell me about this prophecy?"

"It is the last prophecy."

John watched as Angela took a tentative sip of her tea, and then he sighed. Obviously, the only way to get anywhere with this woman was to ask her direct questions.

"What does this prophecy entail?"

Adila regarded him silently.

"Is it about me?"

This time, she spoke.

"Don't be so arrogant as to assume."

"Do you know what the prophecy means?"

"Yes."

"How?"

A pause.

"I am the prophet."

Chas continued to repeat the mantra in his head: Find John, everything will be fine.

Jade had the window halfway down and was running her hand through her dark hair, and looking troubled. Chas sighed, and slowed the car slightly.

"Listen, Jade, I know what that was."

"It was wrong."

"Yes, I know it was wrong, but—"

"No! Don't you see? It wasn't the crucifixion; it was…a mirror image of it. Jesus' right side was pierced, not his left! It was wrong!"

Chas fell silent.

"Shit."

John was getting frustrated.

"Does the prophecy involve me?"

"Yes."

"Shit."

Adila sipped her tea and chuckled lightly, "No."

"What?"

"No."

John paused, and an obscure thought flickered through his mind. A bolt of realization passed through him, and he raised his gaze to Adila's hooded eyes.

"Is the prophecy in effect?"

Adila gave him a genuine smile this time, and set her tea on the counter.

"No."

John nodded, "Angela, we're leaving. We need to find Chas and Jade."

Angela narrowed her eyes at him, "Wait…if this prophecy isn't in effect…"

Adila busied herself with arranging the flowers in the vase in the center of the coffee table.

Angela's eyes narrowed further, and she turned on the older woman, "There is a prophecy in effect, though, isn't there?"

Adila's face remained impassive, but she spoke.

"John Constantine, I cannot help you. You have the truth. Check the scrolls. Guard the amulet. And remember that Lucifer is not one to be scorned lightly."

With that, she nodded gently at the door.