++++++ Before I upload this I want to express my sadness at the passing of actor Harry Morgan better known as Colonel Sherman Potter from MASH and After MASH. Harry has passed at age 96 in his Los Angeles home. Harry is survived by six children, eight grandchildren and his second wife. RIP Harry Morgan you will be missed
Now, please enjoy.
I do not own ++++++
Five
Claire was gone when I woke up.
My clothes had been left where they had fallen so I hurried around looking for everything I'd had with me last night. My body was a remarkable canvas of scratches, bruises and bite marks so I helped myself to the massive shower to get rid of the dry blood. I dressed and let myself out the back door, not particularly feeling like leaving through the club.
The alley behind the club wasn't exactly empty.
"Can't you two piss off and bug someone else?" I snapped.
"I think it would be a good idea if you came back and stayed with us," John replied. "We've got a safe house, somewhere that you can stay and not worry. Robert's an old friend, he thinks someone's trying to come after you."
I shook my head with a chuckle, removing my gloves at the same time to show them my hands. "I'm protected, John Constantine. Trust me. Robert drugged me when I was seventeen and had a shaman mark me with a series of tattoos. Clearly he knows more than I about myself. I'm an exorcist and a magician. I will help if asked but I won't go out looking for trouble like you seem to do. Just buzz off and leave me alone." I pulled my gloves back on and moved around John and Chaz only to hit the chest of a third party. "Son of a bitch!" I yelled. I picked myself up, realising that the only people in the alley moving where John and I.
John sighed. "Bloody hell. Just what I need."
"You know this dick?" I asked.
"Tessa this is Manny, Manny this is Tessa," John answered. "Manny is one of heaven's heavenly assholes." He proceeded to light himself a cigarette."
"Interesting," the angel spoke. "I came here to speak with John, usually I don't have other people listening. It's easy to move in the space between spaces for me-for you it should be impossible." I muttered under my breath and he cocked his head to the side. "I have never heard the heavenly language used like that before. I'd watch your language."
"It's your language, I just have fun with it," I shrugged. I shoved my hands in my pocket. "Well I could say it's been a pleasure but I'd be lying. Fuck off and never darken my doorway again."
By the time I got home it had started to rain and the sun was setting. In Hell's Kitchen the setting sun meant that all kinds of people came out. Criminals, prostitutes, sometimes honest folk trying to make a living-the place was chaotic despite the police doing what they could but sometimes it was obvious they didn't give a fuck.
As I fumbled with my keys, I heard the door opened behind me and my neighbour clear his throat to catch my attention. "What is it, Mr Queen?" I asked, hitting my head subtly against the door.
"Cops were here earlier asking for you," he replied. Nathan Queen wasn't my greatest fan, I can tell you. He didn't seem to like anyone in the building at all. Once upon a time his daughter and granddaughter had lived in this apartment for years until she was killed in a mugging gone wrong. There was a little drawing on the wall behind the toilet of two stick figures named 'mummy' and 'Suki'-obviously drawn by the kid. "Said they'd be back. What did you do this time?"
"Fuck you Queen," I snapped, slamming the door behind me. I sighed and slumped against the door.
"And where have you been?" Talia questioned, hovering to my left.
"Out," I answered. "Old guy across the hall said that there were police here."
"They were demons," Talia confirmed. "Middle men but I did hear a name-La BrujerÃa."
I shrugged. "Let them come back. I'm in the mood to send a black eyes bastard back to hell." I discarded the layers I was wearing and grabbed a drink from the kitchen before going to the bathroom to assess the damage Claire had left behind.
"What the hell happened to you?" Talia shrieked. "Did you get into a fight?"
I took a drink and shook my head, laughing. "No. Not a fight. Relax. I'll be fine, Talia. Just the pleasures of human flesh."
She sighed. "That wasn't fair, Tessa."
"I wasn't meaning it to be rude," I replied. "Besides-I'm still pissed at you for lying to me and blaming me for all these years for your death."
Talia opened her mouth to speak but something stopped her. She glanced at the door. "Those two demons are back."
I rolled my eyes and took another swig of my drink. I waltzed to the door and opened it. "Officers-my neighbour told me you'd come to see me. What is this about?" I inquired.
"Your possible involvement in a potential homicide," the bigger, balder one answered. "Could you please come with us?"
I raised an eyebrow. "I haven't done anything wrong. Can you please state the evidence I'm being charged with?"
"Listen, lady," the second cop snapped. "We can take you now or you can be arrested later on and be charged with assisting arrest along with other things."
I held my hands up in surrender. "Just let me grab my stuff." I grabbed my coat and bag which the knife was hiding within. I locked the door and strode off down the hallway with the police officers. When we got to the end of the hallway the lights started to flicker. I smirked. "I apologise to the host inside," I mumbled. I dropped the knife out of my jacket and despite the fact it was still sheathed, I stabbed it straight through the neck of the tall, bald guy. He grabbed his throat and I yanked the blade free before using it to slice the throat of the second demon. The moment blood touched the metal, my flesh started to burn. The burn came from the small of my back where the tattoo of intricate Tibetan script was. I reached under my shirt and brought my hand back covered in blood and ink.
"Can you walk?" I was lifted up off the ground by Chase.
I nodded. "I think so."
"Bring her back inside," John yelled. They must have followed me from the alley again.
I went inside with Chas and he sat me on a chair to look at my back. "Your entire back is covered in blood and ink. Your tattoos have literally burnt themselves off your flesh. John! Come take a look at his knife!" He tried to take it off me but I held it to my chest.
John stormed back inside the lounge room with a bag full of my clothes. "There are more demons coming, we have to get out of here now!"
"Go with them, Tessa," Talia urged me. "Don't let that knife go whatever you do. Trust me."
I jumped out of my seat. "NO! I am not going anywhere!" I yelled.
"Sorry, luv," John smirked. "I can't exactly afford the time to argue with you. Goodnight."
Something heavy hit me in the back of the head and I surrendered to the black-albeit kicking and screaming.