Sorry for missing Wednesday's post, I live in a dorm during the week, and my school's wifi's been down for 7 days now, and my hotspot wasn't working either because of everyone overloading the towers. Depending on how long this goes on, I may or may not miss next Wednesday too, we'll see. Anyway, hope you like the chapter, please review!
The next day, Mallory went to the office early to try to catch up on her work that she'd missed with the wedding. Well, that was one of the reasons, but really she was just trying to avoid talking to Dick, who would have seen through her walls the second she opened her mouth. She worked through lunch without stopping, but around 2:00 she pushed away from her desk, stretching. She needed a break, and to move around. And a sandwich. She grabbed a stack of files that she needed to distribute and went out to the main room, going straight to the back of the room without looking up.
"Oh, Mallory, what does your cousin do for a living?" one of her co-workers asked, coming up behind her.
"I don't have a cousin, Lydia," she replied without looking up.
Lydia laughed, and Anna came up to join them. "Really? Cause there's someone here to see you who says he is." Her face said that she thought she'd caught Mallory doing something.
"Oh, come now, cuz. Am I that forgettable, then?"
Her eyes widened at the familiar Yorkshire accent, and she turned to see John Constantine walking over, trench coat and all. "John?!" she managed to get out.
He grinned and opened his arms. "There, now, so you do remember me," he said, smiling at her co-workers as he came in for a hug.
"What are you doing here?" she hissed in his ear, her hands on his shoulders out of the instinct to push him away.
"I need your help, luv. World in peril, and all that rubbish." He stepped away before she could respond and smiled at Anna and Lydia. "I'm sorry to interrupt your schedule, I just wanted to take Mallory out for lunch before I head back to London. After all, it's not like I can just transport myself through space and time whenever I want to see her."
Lydia laughed a lot harder than the joke warranted, and even Anna was charmed, though she was definitely still suspicious.
"Uh, well, John, you really should have called earlier. Lunch was two hours ago, I'm working now," Malllory said pointedly.
He tapped his chin thoughtfully. "Oh, was it really?" he snapped his fingers and looked at her coworkers. "Oh, of course. That is the American way to do it, isn't it? It can be so confusing, coming here from London."
Mallory raised an eyebrow, about to point out that it didn't make any sense, but Anna jumped in. "Oh, yeah, it can be so confusing. But, you didn't take a lunch, did you, Mallory? Or, you could take your break early if you did."
Mallory heaved a frustrated sigh. "Yes, thank you, Anna. I never would have thought of that. John, you want to go wait in my office? It's the second one past the elevator. Has my name on it. I'll be there as soon as I finish passing these out."
"Well, don't keep me waiting long, cuz. You know how easily I get bored."
Mallory rolled her eyes and watched her friend's ex disappear towards her office. "Yep," she muttered as she slammed the rest of the files on the desks, "that's my top concern here."
Lydia followed her around the desks. "Mallory, does your cousin have a girlfriend?" she asked.
"I seriously doubt it," Mallory replied.
"Ok, well, could you, like, mention me to him or something? Or, look, I'll just give you my number and you can give it to him."
"Lydia, trust me, you do not want to get close to John. He's not a good guy."
Her face fell a little. "What, he's a player or something?"
Memories of Zatanna's heartbreak during and after her relationship with John flashed in her mind, and her mouth twisted up into a grimace. "Yeah, something like that," she said, and she strode over to her office. When she opened the door, John looked up from where he was sitting behind her desk. She shut the door and walked over. "Ok, you want to tell me why you're at my job?" she asked.
He pulled out a cigarette and lighter. "I told you, fate of the world and all that. I have a job that I could use your particular expertise." He lit the cigarette, and Mallory reached out and pulled the fire from the end, leaving it burned out.
"And what's the job?"
He looked at the cold tip and sighed, irritated. "Oh, just a little matter that needs to be settles where your ability to manipulate fire could come in handy. I need an answer now."
"John, I'm at work. I can't just walk out, and even if I could, I wouldn't go anywhere with you until you told me everything."
"Well, that's a right shame," he said, standing up. She watched him walk to the other side of the desk. "I was hoping to avoid doing this, but," he muttered something under his breath, and before she could interrupt the spell, she dropped to the floor, unconscious.
Mallory groaned and pushed herself up, coming to a few minutes later in full costume. She looked around and saw fire everywhere, but there didn't seem to be a source for it. The sky was red, the streets were like coals, the buildings were all burning. She shot to her feet, thinking that she was still in Metropolis, but she didn't recognize any of the buildings.
"Well, did you have a nice nap, then?"
She glared at John, who was lighting a cigarette behind her. "John, where the hell am I?" she growled.
He chuckled. "Put a capital h on that one, luv, and you've got it."
She narrowed her eyes, not understanding, then it hit her. "You kidnapped me and brought me to Hell?!"
"Oh, relax. It's not as bad as all that. We'll be in and out, I just need to drop by and see an old friend," he said, already walking away.
"Why am I here for that? John!" She jogged to catch up to him, almost bumping into a huge, grotesque creature who was coming out of an alley. Her eyes widened when it looked down at her.
"Hey," it said with a voice that sounded like nails on a chalkboard, "watch where you're doing, you little–"
"Now, no need for all that," John said hastily, stepping between Inferno and the monster.
It eyed him for a moment. "Well, John Constantine. Since when do you protect weaklings like it?"
If they had been in Metropolis, or anywhere on Earth, really, or space, Mallory would have defended herself from being called an 'it', but here, she just pressed her lips together and let her kidnapper smooth things over.
"Well, it's her first time here, and I need her for more important things than your lunch, so bugger off, will ya, and find some other soul to torment."
They stared at each other for a long time, then the creature huffed and started to walk away. "Someday, John Constantine, you'll be here for good. Then I'll have my fun."
"Yeah, yeah, get in line," he called back. He turned to Mallory, his face serious. "What, are you daft? What part of 'we're in Hell' did you not get?"
"Hey, you don't get to put this on me," she snapped, her eyes blazing. "You didn't say anything, and I don't run missions in the dark. How do I get back to Earth?"
He shook his head. "There is no door back to the mortal realm. You'll need a portal, and considering I'm the only one who won't charge you a piece of your eternal soul to open one, it looks like you're just going to have to stick with me, aren't ya?"
She clenched her hands into fists, but she knew when she was beat. "Fine," she said, and he started walking again. She hurried to keep up with him, feeling her power grow with each step into the fiery city. "But if I'm here, I want to know–"
He pulled open a door and walked in, and she followed closely, taking in her surroundings warily. It seemed like a regular office building, but she doubted that that was the case. John seemed to know where he was going. They got on the elevator and went up to the 49th floor. It took less than a second, and when the doors opened, he led her to the office door that read 666. When they walked through the door, it closed behind them.
"Well, John Constantine. Have you come to surrender, finally?" a deep, smooth voice asked.
Malllory lit her eyes to see into the blackness, but she could still only see a foot in front of her. She inched closer to John, not wanting to get separated from her way home. Fire blazed at the sides of the room suddenly, and the room lit up to reveal a man with bat wings sitting behind a large desk at the end of the room. John didn't even flinch.
"Well, I believe introductions are in order," he said. "Beastie, this is an acquaintance of mine from the mortal realm. Inferno, this is The First of the Fallen, ruler of Hell."
Mallory tilted her head. "I thought your name was supposed to be Lucifer," she said, trying to seem confident.
The demon chuckled, and the sound sent shivers down her spine. "No, Lucifer is just my errand boy, second in command. He likes to take credit for a lot, but really, I sign off on anything going or coming from this place." He stood, walking over to them. As he did, his size shrunk down until he was only as tall as John. "Inferno. Mallory Desdemona. It is a pleasure to meet you. We have been keeping tabs on you for quite a while now. A pity that you still insist on fighting your nature. You could do quite well here."
Mallory narrowed her eyes, fighting the flash of fear that spiked in her chest. "It's Johnson," she corrected, then she kicked herself for saying her real name and shook her head. "But to you, it's just Inferno."
The demon shrugged. "As you wish." He looked at John. "Would you like to tell me why you've come to my office without an invitation?"
John shook his head. "You know why I'm here, Beastie, so let's skip the pleasantries and get on with it, shall we?"
Beastie shrugged and sat on the edge of his desk. "By all means. You want me to agree to leave your world alone. However, since you do not have anything to offer me, and you are not a threat to me, I am going to have to deny that request." He looked at Mallory with greedy eyes. "Unless, of course, you were willing to trade, say, the girl's soul."
Mallory narrowed her eyes, still trying to appear in control, but her heart was hammering against her ribs as she waited for John to answer. "Sorry, but that's not on the table," he said.
Beastie titled his head. "Right, I forgot. You don't sacrifice the innocent. Well, at least, not anymore. A pity that you weren't so picky when it was Astra's turn to be saved."
John flew at the demon before the sentence was even all the way out. Mallory didn't know whether she should be helping him try to take out the thing or pull him off. Before she decided, though, the fight was over. Beastie threw John across the room and put up a line of fire.
"Really, Johnny, all these years and you're still just as predictable as you were back then."
"Enough!" Mallory narrowed her eyes and swept a hand out, killing the fire. She was shocked that it actually worked, but she hid her surprise and pretended like she was in control with the others' eyes on her. "We're here to bargain, so let's talk. With souls and lives off the table, there has to be something you want. I'm sure we can agree to something."
The First of the Fallen tilted his head, and a smile came to his face. "Well, that is a very sensible attitude. Reminds me of Johnny when he's got his head on straight. Well, now, surely there are a few odds and ends that you could acquire for me. Of course, the value will have to be equal to what you'll get in return." John had regained his feet by now and strode over to stand with Mallory. "You know, there is one thing that I can think of. The Book of Souls. You bring it to me, and I'll promise to leave your pitiful reality be."
"You must be daft. We deliver The Book of Souls to you, and we only get one universe in exchange? The book's worth fifty realities, at least, and you know it."
Beastie smiled. "So, you've gotten a second wind, eh? Very well, if you can bring me the book, then we can discuss what else you want." John narrowed his eyes, studying the being opposite them, then nodded. "Very well, the bargain is struck. I hope, for your world's sake, that you can deliver."
Mallory nodded and she and John left the office. When she closed the door behind them, John was glaring at her. "What was I supposed to do?" she asked before he could yell at her.
His face went slack and he shook his head. "I don't know, but you've just made a deal with the devil, and those are known for going his way."
They reached the elevator and were back on the ground floor almost instantly. Mallory was quiet as they walked down the street. There were so many things she wanted to ask, but the thing that came out of her mouth was, "this place really doesn't seem as bad as it's supposed to be."
John shrugged. "It's worse, you just haven't experienced enough of it. I put a spell on you before we jumped realms. Any normal mortal without protection would feel all of the anger, fear, grief, excetera of a lifetime, all the time, without a break. And that's just on the emotional side. Souls are the currency down here, and whatever demon has a certain chip can do whatever they please with the soul attached to it. Torture doesn't even begin to describe the misery that most of the damned experience, every moment for eternity."
She looked around. There were demons and creatures walking around, sure, but there were also people that looked like her, and some that she couldn't decide if they were demons or just aliens. "What about them?" she asked.
"Well, some mortals do manage to buy their way up the ladder, but it's rare. It would take help, and that would require backing. A lot of that depends on what they did while they were living."
They settled back into silence as they continued, John lost in thought and Mallory taking in her surroundings and trying to wrap her brain around where she was. He finally led her into a building that turned out to be a bar and ushered her to a table.
"What are we doing here?" she asked.
"Scouting. The Book of Lost Souls isn't something you can just pick up at a store. It's been lost for mailnea, so if we're going to find it, we'll need to find someone who might know where to look." He signaled the waitress. "I'll have a pint." He looked at Mallory. "Anything for you, luv?"
She shook her head. "I don't drink," she said, wincing. She'd vowed to quit the night she told Peter she would get better, and she hadn't broken that promise yet. John just shrugged and sent the girl off. "So, why does he want this book? What does it do?" she asked.
"It's supposed to tell the reader the destiny of everyone who has ever existed, if that's what they truly wish."
"So, you're saying that everyone's destiny is already written?" she asked.
He shook his head as his beer came. "Not in so many words. It's written until it's unwritten, constantly changing until it's set in stone. At least, that's how the legend goes."
"He can't rewrite the book, can he? I mean, if we get this thing for him, he couldn't change how things are supposed to unfold?"
John shook his head. "No, that's not how it works. The best he could do is use it to try to target people, but even then I doubt even he would be able to change more than minor events."
"Then why does he want it? And why doesn't he already have it if he really does?"
John wasn't listening anymore. He was staring at a group of demons coming into the bar. "There. Those are the blokes we need to talk to. The Demons Three. They're not much, but they run a sort of pawn business, so if anyone might know where the book is, they're a good start." They went to the table, and John straddled the only free chair. "Hello, boys. Fancy meeting you on this side of the gate. Last I heard you were in the mortal realm, complements of Faust, and looking for the House of Secrets. Find anything?"
"What are you doing here, Constantine? Trying to get a head start on your punishments?" one of the demons said. The others snickered, and John rolled his eyes.
"I'm here for some information, and I thought you might have it. I'm looking for the Book of Souls. Have you heard anything about it?"
"Why would we help you? The last time we saw you, you cheated us out of the Wheel of Nyorlath, and now we can't cross the gates unless we're summoned."
John chuckled. "Oh, right, I've got that hanging over my mantle. Quite the conversation starter. No, I'm not suggesting you help me." He whipped a deck of cards out of his pocket and tossed it onto the table between them. "I'm suggesting a wager. I win, you'll tell me what you know. You win, and you can have your wheel back, good as new. Do we have a deal?"
The demons looked at each other, and the biggest on grinned. "Yes."
One of the others looked at Mallory. "What's it doing here?" it asked. She crossed her arms. She was getting tired of being called an it.
John shrugged. "Just keeping me company while I look," he replied.
"Well, we'll play, on one condition. That it goes elsewhere."
John didn't even look at her. "Sure, whatever you say."
The third demon laughed and lifted a hand. "It can go where the rest of it's kind belong," he said, and when he opened his palm, a portal opened under her feet, and she fell through, a shriek escaping her. She tried to flame up to ease her landing, but it was like the blackness was eating her fire before she could use it, so she fell on and on, into the darkness, with the only sensation she knew being the fall.
She hit the ground hard, all of her weight landing on her shoulder. Pain exploded down her arm, and she swallowed a scream as a white flashed in front of her eyes. When she could see again, she rolled off of her shoulder, every tiny movement almost unbearable, and brushed her shoulder with the tip of her finger. Immediately, she knew something was broken.
She got to her feet, holding her arm to keep it still, and walked around. It was still pitch black. She lit a fire in her hand and started forward. She was in a cell with a glass front. She pushed the door open and stepped out cautiously. She still couldn't see, so she lit a fire in her hand to look around. As far as she could tell, she was in a long hall with rooms all down it, with glass walls looking into them. There was something distantly familiar about it, but she couldn't quite put her finger on what it was.
As she continued down the hall, a sound became more and more clear: screams of agony. She shuddered, fighting her instinct to run and help. There wasn't anything she could do for them,and she didn't think she wanted to see what was happening for them to make those sounds. She turned, intending to go the other way, but something caught her attention at the edge of her circle of light. She leaned towards the glass, squinting into the darkness, and barely made out a clown painted into the floor of the room. No, not a clown. A joker.
Her eyes widened as she realized all at once why the place seemed so familiar. It looked just like Arkham. She shone her light at the other cells near her and recognized some of the names on the doors: Joker, Victor Zaszz, Despero, Atrocious, and the list went on. All of the worst of the worst from her universe, all lumped together in one place. There were some rooms that didn't have doors. The one closest to her had the word 'parallax' scrawled across the glass wall in what she assumed was blood.
She backed away from the cells,her heart hammering against the cells. She could feel the evil hanging in the room, even with the cells empty. There was some raspy laughter, joined by dozens of other voices, all laughing at her reaction, but before she could look for where the voices were coming from, a portal opened under her feet and she fell through it back into the bar.
She landed hard next to John, right back in her shoulder, and she felt the bones crunching back into place, the white hot pain subsiding as she rolled her arm to make sure it was healed. Her kidnapper was grinning, and the demons were grumbling and bickering among themselves.
"And we have a location," John announced.
"You cheat," one of the demons grumbled.
John rolled his eyes. "Oh, come off it," he said, pulling out a pack of cigarettes, "we've been through this. We all cheat, I'm just better at it."
Mallory barely heard the banter. Her mind was back in the hall, the cells beckoning to her, calling her to search them, unlock their secrets. She had so many questions, but she didn't know how to ask them. One of the Demons Three started to move around the table, as she tried to get control of her breathing. Her heart was pumping so fast it felt like it would explode any second.
She saw the movement out of the corner of her eyes and reacted on instinct. "John!" she yelled, a fire shield already up. She flung the flames into the demon and he was thrown across the room just as John started to look over his shoulder.
He chuckled and put his hands in his pockets. "Well done, Inferno," he said, then he shook his head at the demons. "Better luck next time, boys."
He walked out of the bar without even glancing back, and Mallory hurried after him. He did pause when he got to the street, actually looking at her. She took the opportunity to put her hands on her knees and gulp in the charred air, still fighting the panic attack that was clawing its way up her throat. She nearly choked the first time her lungs filled with the thick, smokey air, and she coughed it back up.
"Yeah, shallow breaths are best. You never know who you're breathing in down here," he said, almost sympathetically.
The thought made her want to puke, but she forced her stomach to settle and stood up. This was her opportunity to ask. She could tell that he was waiting for it, but she just stared at him. After a few seconds, she shook her head. She didn't want to know.
"So, what's the next stop?" she asked, forcing her voice to be normal.
John led the way down the street. "There's a mansion not far from here. It's a bit of a collection point, run by an old cuss that has it out for everyone." He looked at her and seemed to realize how shaken she was. "Come on," he said, his voice softer as he put a hand on her back awkwardly. "It's not far now."
She kept her feet moving through the fog clouding her mind, trusting John to get them there safely. She grabbed that thought, almost laughing at it. Who would have thought that she would ever trust John Constantine with anything?