Special Disclaimer: The following chapter has dialogue from the 2017 Justice League Dark movie, and credit goes to the writers of this movie. For other disclaimer, see chapter one.
Chapter Four. Constantine, Blood, Etrigan & Insanity
"Bollocks!" Constantine exclaimed after another loss, "In what bloody plane of existence does four of a kind lose?"
A horned demon takes the winnings to his position.
"Too, too bad, Constantine," the smaller demon replied, before laughing.
"Have you gained weight?" the third demon asked, "it looks good on you."
"What say you let your soul mate play a few hands, Jason?" Constantine glanced over at his friend, "Maybe he'd change my luck. He'd definitely be less mopey than you."
"John Constantine," Blood replied, "the man who perfected the bad idea. The only reason I came to this dung heap of a casino is to find a relic to keep that monster locked away forever."
"Boys, boys," the horned demon started shuffling a deck of cards, "You're boring me. Let's play, shall we?"
The men held their deck of cards. Constantine looked at his. He eyed his opponent and placed the chips in front for gambling.
The horned demon laughed, "My luck's running as hot as me naughty bits. Oh, but our next group of friends is due to arrive, so it's time to bust you out."
The smaller demon chuckled, "Copperfield's coming. Presto changeo! Woman in a box. In a box."
"Yeah," the third demon replied, "he's classy, unlike you."
"Are they implying David Copperfield, television magician, has true power?" Blood asked.
"Owns a chain of islands and dated Claudia Schiffer," Constantine answered, "What do you think?"
Blood glanced over as the horned demon placed his chips and cash to the center with Constantine's chips.
"No cards for me and..." the horned demon said, "Oh, looks like you can't call my bet, Constantine. By my rules, you lose."
Constantine placed a hand on the demon's, "I raise."
"With what?" the horned demon retorted, "Your ratty soul ain't worth two bits."
"Not two bits," the smaller demon chimed in before laughing.
"I'm betting the house," Constantine declared, "the House of Mystery."
He shown the demons the house floated in the air, "And since I'm including everything inside, it looks like you're the one that can't call, Abnegazar."
Constantine looked on as the demons were talking amongst themselves. He looked at the demons were chanting in another language, forming a portal. The horned demon got out a chest with a skull on it, "I call."
Constantine looked at a black jewel of some sort, "Really? A chipped dreamstone?"
"I'm out," Blood declared.
"Broken knick knacks," Constantine stated, "for the House of Mystery and its contents? Are you mad?"
The horned demon stated, "I've got a working soul catcher. That's Ogid's Eye Spiker, eh?"
He laughed before adding, "And the Garazi. So, even if that very magical Dreamstone doesn't work, it's still a big ass ruby."
Constantine tossed the stone back in the box and slammed his hands on the table, "I'd be a poor sport indeed if I didn't accept your fair wager."
He placed his deck of cards, and the demons laughed in response.
"Hell," the horned demon stated, "that's a losing hand for the ages. Now, read them and..."
The magic wore off revealing the demon's true deck of cards, "What?"
"Do they have an eye doctor in hell?" Constantine asked, "I'd make an eye appointment if I was you."
The horned demon growled, "You cheated!"
He slammed his fists to the table and broke it. Constantine fell to the floor and then he looked up, "Technically, we both cheated. I just did it better."
"I'll rip your bloody heart out!" the horned demon exclaimed.
"Sorry, mate," Constantine replied as he grabbed a dagger, "I'm using that."
He fired an energy which emit ice and hit the horned demon's eyes.
Constantine fired at the demons until the ice started to affect his body and dropped the dagger, "Situation here, Jason. It's time to call your better half."
"Sorry, John," Blood replied, "you're on your own."
Constantine dodged when the demons tried to strike at him. He looked at Blood before chanting in another language, aiming magical energy at Blood.
"Gone, gone, the form of man," Blood and Constantine chanted in unison.
"Arise the demon Etrigan!" Blood turned into the demon Etrigan.
Etrigan looked at the demons attacking.
"Once more with words of metered rhyme," Etrigan summoned a sword from flames, "comes Etrigan the Slayer just in time."
"Easy now, brother," the smaller demon stated, "We're on the same side, right?"
"Let's use our words!" the third demon declared.
"Are you having a laugh?" the horned demon retorted, "We're the Demons Three. Kill everyone!"
Etrigan knocked down the horned demon, flipped back to position, and then breathed fire to apprehend the other two demons, and beheaded them.
Constantine noticed the two demons beheaded as he had the box.
"You will pay, Constantine," the smaller demon declared.
"Your soul will be ours," the third demon added.
"Get in line, you prats," Constantine replied before closing the box.
Etrigan dueled with the horned demon which resulted in Etrigan impaling the horned demon, causing him to be put in flames. The horned demon went down a portal of fire.
"Your ass is grass, Constantine," the third demon stated.
"And we're the lawnmower," the smaller demon added as they joined their fellow demon in hell before the portal closed.
"Since the battle's fought and won," Etrigan declared, "Jason Blood with me is done."
In flames, Etrigan turned back into Blood, who punched Constantine in the face after he placed the box in the house.
"For 500 years, I've been bound by Etrigan," Blood stated, "fighting to keep him from coming forth, and you forced me to summon him."
"Everything got sorted," Constantine replied.
"He could've gone on a killing spree," Blood argued, "You don't think. You don't consider the cost."
"Yeah, I did," Constantine interjected, "Weighed it against my being eaten alive and thought, yeah totally worth it."
He walked through a portal, and prepared to return to the house.
"You're a world class bastard, John," Blood replied.
Constantine entered his house, closed the portal, and then closed the door in front of him.
-The-Magic-Within-
Dick woke up in a hospital room as he heard shouting from outside the room. He noticed an oxygen tube around his face, below his nostrils, and some stuff monitoring his heart rate and oxygen as well. All the yelling wasn't helping his headache as he was confused at what was going on, and how he even got here in the first place. He could recognize Bruce's voice, and was able to figure out the other voices as Mandrake, Flash, and Luke.
He tried to get up from his bed, only to be stopped when a hand gently placed on his chest and made him lay back down, "Take it easy, Dick."
Dick looked to see Barbara sitting next to him, "Babs?"
"It's going to be okay," Barbara assured him, "You need to rest though."
"What happened?" Dick asked as he held his head.
"You had a seizure last night," Barbara informed him, "and we had to take you to the hospital."
"How long have I been here?" Dick asked.
"Since last night," Barbara answered, "How do you feel?"
"Been better," Dick replied, showing her his headache, "How bad was the seizure?"
"It was bad enough where you were unconscious all night," Barbara explained, "They said they needed to keep you overnight for observation in case you had another seizure."
"Did I?"
"No."
"Oh, thank God," Dick sighed as he laid back on the bed, "it could have been worse, couldn't it?"
"That's so true," Barbara advised him, "but Alfred said you are going to be restricted to bed rest for awhile. So, no going to Bludhaven for awhile, not even going out to Gotham to help us."
"Great," Dick groaned.
-The-Magic-Within-
Richie sighed. He was reflecting on recent events, including last year. He had forgiven Duncan thanks to Tori encouraging him to do so, even after the events of the Dark Quickening, but he was still haunted by nearly being beheaded in nightmares, even after being rescued from the witch Zorelda.
Speaking of which, he reflected on the witch kidnapping him after he proposed to Tori. He briefly thought he was going to end up dead like Tessa after being imprisoned, albeit beheaded, but he knew better. The witch ended up having her monk place him in a never ending sleep spell and Tori kissed him to wake him up after she took Zorelda's Quickening, something related to Snow White or Sleeping Beauty. Richie would never be able to live that down.
"Richie?"
He turned and saw his fiance.
"What's wrong, Tori?" Richie asked.
"We have company," Tori answered as they both sensed the Buzz. She looked out the window, "I think it's MacLeod."
Richie joined Tori's view, and he grabbed his sword, "Let's go."
The two hurried outside, their respective swords in hand.
They looked over to see Duncan standing before them, as Tori suspected as they sensed the Buzz again.
"Mac," Tori greeted the Highlander.
"Looking for us?" Richie asked.
"Look I came here to congratulate you two on your engagement," Duncan replied calmly. Richie only nodded.
"Mac, you already told me that last month when we were on our way to rescue Richie," Tori stated.
"Thanks," Richie replied before he took a deep breath and replied, "Look, I told you I've forgiven you, but I'm still haunted by what happened when you were under the influence of the Dark Quickening. It has scared me, even now. I try to forget, but it appears that forgiving and forgetting are two different things."
"He has have nightmares," Tori acknowledged her fiance's statement, "and I suspect it was the Dark Quickening, even after Richie's forgiven you."
"Thanks to you," Richie gave a small smile before giving Tori a kiss. Duncan gave a small smile himself, "I don't know what I'd do if you weren't there to talk me out of doing anything stupid, and thanks to you, I have managed to forgive Mac for what happened."
"I hope you two have a wonderful wedding whenever you have it," Duncan told the couple, "if you still have your heads by then."
"You might be able to come," Richie informed him, "but for right now, I think it's best that we kept distance from each other for a little while longer."
Duncan nodded. He understood, but had hoped Richie would get past what happened last year.
"Richie," Duncan insisted, "I told you I'd like to take back what happened, but I can't. You can't keep away from me forever. Keep note of that. Both of you."
"Thanks for the tip," Richie nodded before he returned to the hotel. Tori looked at him for a moment, "Look, Mac, I think he needs space a little longer."
"I can tell," Duncan replied.
"I'll see what I can do," Tori assured him, "I love you like a father, and I especially love Richie. It's not easy to see you guys drift apart, even after the forgiving part. Forgiving was hard, but forgetting seems to be harder."
"Good luck," Duncan nodded.
"Thanks," Tori replied before joining her fiance in the hotel.
-The-Magic-Within-
Tori was startled upon seeing Richie with his old motorcycle, "What the hell?"
"What?" Richie quipped as he took off his helmet, "I got my old bike back."
"I see that," Tori quipped, "but how?"
"How?" Richie smirked before glancing at the motorcycle, "Well, I had to do some persuasion to convince the guy to let me buy my bike back."
Tori gulped, not really knowing what he was implying with that persuasion.
"Don't worry," Richie held his fiance's arms, "there's nothing to worry about. Nothing you need to be concerned about."
"I hope you're right," Tori nodded before sharing a kiss with her fiance.
"Wanna hang out at the bar for a little date?" Richie asked.
Tori smiled, "Sure."
She got on her violet helmet and went with Richie and he took her with the bar.
-The-Magic-Within-
Several Months Ago
Richie was fixing his bike outside Anchor Studios in San Francisco. Tori was out talking with her mother back at the hotel they were staying at. He stood up as he sensed the Buzz as a car pulled up near where he was at.
"Move the bike, kid," a dark haired man demanded. Richie didn't comply, "Find another way."
He went back to fix his bike.
"I said move the bike," the man demanded again as he stopped his car again, "I got an appointment to keep."
"Yeah, well," Richie replied, focusing on his motorcycle, "life's full of little disappointments, isn't it?"
The man stepped out of his car, "I'm not gonna tell you again. Out of the way."
"Wanna move the bike," Richie suggested, frustrated, "move it yourself."
The man got out his sword before approaching him, "You should move your bike, kid."
Richie shook his head and replied as he went to get his sword, "Oh brother."
The guy lunged at Richie during the sword fight. The guy appeared to be the aggressor and Richie was defending himself. They paused a moment.
"Come on," the man instigated before the fight resumed. Richie gained the upper hand, pinned the guy at a nearby dumpster, impaled him before taking his head.
The Present
Richie joined Tori at the bar.
"Nice little place," Tori quipped.
The couple looked over at the sign which read, "Beat Delia, win a beer".
Delia, a blonde woman, was arm wrestling a heavy set man.
"Couldn't possibly be for the beer," Richie retorted, "You might as well give it away."
Delia easily defeated the heavy set man, "Maybe the critic wants to try me?"
Tori and Richie glanced at each other.
"For beer?" Richie pointed at his drink, "No thanks."
"If you don't like it," Delia suggested, "go someplace else."
"All right then," Richie replied as he took off his jacket.
"You're going for it?" Tori asked.
"Of course," Richie answered, "and when I win, I'll let you have the beer."
He kissed her.
"Your wife?" Delia asked.
"She'll be my wife soon," Richie answered, "she's my fiance."
"Well, congrats."
"Thanks," Richie replied before preparing for the challenge, "Let's do it."
"Good luck with the challenge," Tori quipped.
Delia and Richie took part of the arm wrestling challenge, and at first, they were evenly matched.
Suddenly, Richie is distracted when he sensed the Buzz. Tori sensed it as well. Delia gained the upper hand against Richie. Tori looked over at Richie, "Well, I gotta say, Delia has beauty and brawn, not that it's any of my business."
The couple looked to see a young man with long, curly blonde hair.
"Barkeep!" the man called out, "Scotch rocks, double."
"That's Delia to you, bud," Delia replied.
"Delia? Well, in that case," the man replied, "I'll have a beer, and a haircut."
He looked over at Richie, almost in a panic, "A demon. Demon!"
The man got out his sword and lunged towards Richie, who got out his sword and blocked the attack, "Take it easy."
"Not until you are dead, demon!" the young man shouted.
"Demon?!" Richie exclaimed in disbelief, "My name's Richie Ryan, and I'm human."
"Oh yeah," the man replied, "my name is Carter Wellan, and you are dead!"
Tori stopped him this time, "If you are going to do this, at least take it outside!"
"Yeah," Delia replied, "this sword fight is not cool!"
"Fine," Carter replied.
Richie and Tori met up with Carter outside at a safe distance from the bar.
"You will die today, demon!" Carter exclaimed.
"I'm telling you," Richie insisted, "I am not a demon!"
"Keep telling yourself that, if that makes you feel better," Carter replied.
"He clearly is hallucinating," Tori stated.
"So what else is new?" Richie retorted, "This is my duel."
"You're right," Tori stepped back, "just be careful, okay?"
"I will, babe," Richie replied before he gave her a kiss, "I love you, Tori."
"I love you too, Rich," Tori smiled.
Richie stepped forward and started the fight with a hallucinating Carter. It started with Richie dodging blows, and blocking blows, and giving counter attacks of his own. Suddenly, he started seeing a demon in Carter's place. Richie's eyes widened in shock, "It can't be."
The duel resumed between both men who were now both seeing demons. Eventually, Richie gained the upper hand against Carter, slashed his chest, and knocked him to the ground.
"There can be only one!" Richie declared before taking Carter's head. Moments later, there wasn't much of a Quickening from Carter, so he looked at Tori after the victory.
"Are you okay?" Tori asked, concerned.
"I think so," Richie nodded, "come on, let's go."
Richie and Tori got their helmets on as his fiance joined him on the back of the motorcycle, not acknowledging a voice yelling at Richie, "You're a dead man! You hear me?! Dead!"
Author's Note: Let me clarify some things. There are two Jasons in this story: Jason Todd, who is Red Hood, and Jason Blood, who is emerged with the demon Etrigan. To avoid confusion, I decided to have Jason Blood addressed as Blood in case both characters end up sharing the same scene.
A/N 2: This story as well as the "Love in Dangerous Times" arc of the upcoming Year Long Tour have divided moments where "End of Innocence" are in it. I'll let you figure out what happens at what time and place as this story progresses.
Richie was fixing his bike outside Anchor Studios in San Francisco. Tori was out talking with her mother back at the hotel they were staying at. He stood up as he sensed the Buzz as a car pulled up near where he was at.
"Move the bike, kid," a dark haired man demanded. Richie didn't comply, "Find another way."
He went back to fix his bike.
"I said move the bike," the man demanded again as he stopped his car again, "I got an appointment to keep."
"Yeah, well," Richie replied, focusing on his motorcycle, "life's full of little disappointments, isn't it?"
The man stepped out of his car, "I'm not gonna tell you again. Out of the way."
"Wanna move the bike," Richie suggested, frustrated, "move it yourself."
The man got out his sword before approaching him, "You should move your bike, kid."
Richie shook his head and replied as he went to get his sword, "Oh brother."
The guy lunged at Richie during the sword fight. The guy appeared to be the aggressor and Richie was defending himself. They paused a moment.
"Come on," the man instigated before the fight resumed. Richie gained the upper hand, pinned the guy at a nearby dumpster, impaled him before taking his head.
Yes, this dialogue came from the episode "Haunted", and you'll see this scene one more time when I cover this episode during the Season 5 arc, which is going to be still quite a bit because I got still a bit to cover in the Defenders Chronicles Highlander story as I'm still on the Season 2 arc.
Apologies for the delay, I lost my copy of Justice League Dark DVD/Blu ray for a little bit until I found it near my closet and now I finally plan to finish this as much as possible.