AN/ This chapter includes another deleted scene with Ellie. Special thanks to Lady Shadiait for looking over this chapter for me. Hope you enjoy it! Thanks again to the reviewers.

I stayed focused on the task at hand. I ignored the images I received of Chas and Anput as they entered the back room where the water tank for the sprinkler system was kept. In just about no time, Constantine and I reached the non-descript, glass double doors that lead into the exercise room. You had to pass through this room to get into hydrotherapy. It was full of half-breeds disguised as people from all races and walks of life.

For me, approaching this room felt like diving into the deep end of a swimming pool. There was an intense wave of demonic pressure around us. All I wanted to do was turn and run as far away as I could, but of course that wasn't an option.

Constantine pushed the doors open and addressed the crowd, showing all the boldness that came from years of experience. "Hi. My name's John," he said, as if speaking to a room full of school kids and he was the special guest at their assembly. The Hell-Speak went silent as the half-breeds turned and saw him. They all recognised him and hated him. They hesitated to attack though, surprised that he should face them all at once and seemingly without fear.

Constantine strolled over to a chair and dragged it under a smoke detector. "You are in violation of the balance," he informed the mob of demons. "Leave imminently or I will deport you." He stepped up onto the chair. I stood on the ground beside him, grateful that the half-breeds didn't know I was there. I had to smile ever so slightly at my assignment. At least he offered them a hassle-free escape. Their loss they didn't take it. Constantine took out his lighter. "All of you," he vowed.

They must have thought Constantine was an idiot for threatening a room full of half-breed demons with nothing but a cigarette lighter. No one made a sound or moved a muscle. A room full of glowing red eyes stared at Constantine.

"Go to Hell," John said. He raised the flame from his lighter up to the smoke detector. It took exactly three seconds for the sprinklers to turn on. I flinched and shivered as cold water rained down on me. I noticed the water felt…smoother than normal water. The lights snapped off and John stepped off of his chair.

It took about another three seconds for the half-breeds to realise what Constantine had done. It was Ellie, who was standing in the front of the crowd, who vocalised it. "Holy water?"

Now the demons' skin started to dissolve. They began to scream terribly. They were in agony. It was a horrible, unearthly sound. I still had to smirk slightly, glad that Chas and Anput had come through. Now it was Constantine's turn. I looked to my assignment and offered him a small smile combined with a nod. He pushed the chair aside and set to work with the Holy Shotgun. I lingered back to keep out of his way.

One of the half-breeds lunged for him. Constantine blew him away with a single shot and the demon's body crumpled against the tiled floor like a broken pot. Other half-breeds tried to attack as well, those who still could anyway. Constantine caught three of them in the flash light beam on the shotgun and blasted them. He slowly walked through the room, shot another three half-breeds, knocked one against the ground, shot another one, reloaded. They kept coming at him. I wanted to help, but there was nothing I could do.

Three more attacking demons were blown into oblivion. Constantine swiped one at the knees, knocking it to the tiles. He fired at one coming to the left, struck one to his right. He was at the far end of the room now. I slowly followed, picking my way carefully through the remains of the demons. Constantine shot another half-breed close to the ground. By now, there was only one left standing. It charged at Constantine, who fired at it point-blank. The half-breed stopped, thinking it had been shot. But no, it was still standing. Constantine's gun was empty. My eyes went wide, but I knew that even if I moved now, I would never reach them in time. The demon lunged at Constantine. Its hands were almost around his shoulders when there was another blast.

I cried out in pain and fell to the floor, almost landing in the remains of one of the half-breeds. My right shoulder felt like it was on fire. I barely noticed the demon as it was blown apart.

Constantine looked behind him. There was Chas, his shotgun smoking, standing at the other door. He had shot the demon, but his bullet also went through me. I clutched my shoulder tightly as it slowly began to heal. Chas looked stunned. Anput had seen me fall and screamed. "Bastet!" She rushed to my side, confusing Chas even more. Constantine saw me and his eyes widened in concern. The last thing he needed was to worry about me. A fire lit in my belly and I struggled to my knees. Anput helped me up.

"I'm okay. Really," I told Anput and John. I looked at my injured shoulder and saw that it was just a graze. I forced myself up to my feet. I told myself I had to be strong for Constantine. I needed to be his rock. I could not be weak. I smiled grimly through the pain and looked to Anput. "Go back to Chas," I told her. My smile faded as my eyes flickered to Chas. I looked from him to my sister and back again. She got the message and nodded to me. We both knew Chas' apprenticeship was almost up.

"Are you sure you're okay?" she asked me.

I sighed and nodded forcefully.

"Okay." Anput went back to Chas' side and told him what had happened. He looked ill.

"Tell him I'm okay and I'm not mad at him," I said to Anput. "It was an accident." She repeated my message and Chas looked a little bit relieved.

I looked to Constantine. He still seemed a little bit concerned. I tried to reassure him. "It's okay. Just a graze. I'm fine." I glanced around the room. "You did a good job here, but we're not done yet." He sighed at me. He already knew that. I bit my lip. He was looking even sicker than he did before the fight.

"John," Chas called across the room. The sprinklers died down to just a few steady drips. Constantine dropped the empty chamber from the holy shotgun and put a fresh one in.

Constantine paused, as if he heard something or sensed something that only he could sense. I concentrated for a moment and then I felt it too. There was a half-breed that was still alive. Constantine whipped to the right, aiming his gun. Chas followed the movement, cocking his rifle, ready to provide backup. There, crouching under the headrest of an exercise bed was Ellie. Small portions of her skin had dissolved away, but she was still entirely intact. She looked like she was in a lot of pain and absolutely terrified. John looked like he would rather not be in this situation. I knew that he had conflicting thoughts about Ellie. Ellie looked up at Constantine.

"Just my luck," she said softly. "Should've bet on you."

She closed her eyes and waited for him to send her back down to Hell. Constantine hesitated, staring hard at her. I didn't know quite how much he cared about her, but it was obviously enough for him to do what he did next.

"See you around, kid," he told Ellie. Then he stepped away and towards the door to the hydrotherapy room.

Ellie, not quite believing her good fortune, decided to make a dash for it before he changed his mind. She ran past Chas, who smiled.

"What's up?" he asked her. I saw Anput give him a scolding look and smiled to myself.

My smile vanished when I looked at my assignment. He was breathing heavily, looking like he was struggling to hold it together. I went to his side and placed a hand on his shoulder. Chas splashed across the room, but paused before he got too close to John. He noticed that his mentor wasn't doing very well. "You okay, boss?"

Constantine didn't answer because he knew the truth was 'no.' He couldn't give the truth right now though. He had to be strong. Everyone was counting on him. Constantine looked back at Chas and sighed quietly. Then he walked over to the side of the door where the handicap automatic open button was. He looked at Chas again, but I knew he was also addressing me.

"Ready?"

Chas blew out a deep breath and aimed his gun at the glass doors. Anput looked tense but strong. My shoulder was still sore, but the wound had already closed over. I nodded at my assignment, my face set and determined. We had come too far to back down. It was now or never, to use the cliché. I knew that we were already just a little too late so save Angela from possession, but we could still put a stop to Mammon's take over.

Constantine hit the button to open the doors. They slid apart with a ding. The four of us stepped through to what would become the final confrontation.