DC Hellblazer: I'm Constantine

###### C25. I'm Constantine

Bollocks!

My face's sinking into Hell's hot and acidic ground. It's as suffocating as it's bitter to taste.

The crashing weight of these wings is unbearable. Didn't know being "fallen" was meant to be a literal experience. Sinking as the pull of gravity multiplies.

"Grrhhh!!!" It's an excruciating ordeal and I'm now several feet underground. Several more and I will break into bloody Hell fire.

Worse, Zatanna's life's still on the line. I must be out of time by now. That talisman I folded in her left palm should have already lost it's charm. So, how is it... that we're all still breathing?

I'm tempted - to rip the wings off of my back. To undo the binding spell that's put me under this curse. To abandon my quest for wings before I can go on falling forever. Maybe Lucy had a good point when he abandoned these wings.

But I'm not ready to give up just yet. Despite the ordeal, I'm determined to prove a point. To the mocking demons, to these wings, to myself. That, if I'm ever out to get something, I won't shy away at the tail. Not after I've swallowed the elephant whole.

So bloody come on and blaze already, Hellblazer!

Still nothing. No snuff of power from the Hellblazer mark and it's becoming frustrating. Why is it switching on and off by it's own accord? I'm still sinking, suffering from the weight of Lucifer's wings, but something tells me that whatever's been happening to my Hellblazer power is the key to my survival. So, I don't stop thinking, even when the Hellfire starts to burn as it heals.

General POV:

"Tchi-tchi!" the First sneers as he looks at the pit still swallowing Constantine. "Lucifer's wings will sink him into Oblivion. Just like they did Azazel and anyone else who dared to adorn them."

"This was a clever plot, Mammon," the First admits to the demon of wealth, Mammon. Mammon doesn't seem to bask in the praise though. He's still wondering if Constantine's got a hidden ace.

Mammon glances at Zatanna's body, wary of touching it. She still looks lifeless, and that just doesn't sit right with him. Although, Constantine has a reputation of going to great lengths, just to get what he wants. Even sacrificing Zatanna?

"We still haven't worn yet," Mammon says. "Not until the wings resurface."

The first laughs victoriously, "then, John Constantine will be a thing of the past."

"I've crossed paths with Constantine's throughout history, but this one had a knack for getting to my nerves," the First adds while bouncing Zatanna's soul on the palm of his hand. It feels him with a renewed sense of power to have such a soul at his grasp. A soul worth millions is a rare occurrence, especially if it's as pure as Zatanna's. Heaven must be mourning.

The First smiles to himself, showing the grotesque arrangement of his teeth. He finally did it. He finally got his vengeance from the man who tricked him both into drinking Holy water and curing him.

He relishes on the hot wave hitting high notes on his body. This feeling of vengeance; it never gets old. He'll reward Mammon greatly, for setting up this auction. Mammon's proved to be very smart and resourceful and the First hopes he'll become a useful ally in the ongoing politics of Hell.

"How did you even come across Lucifer's wings and armour?" the First wonders aloud, glancing at Mammon. "No one has seen them since he departed from hell."

"I had a demon placed in the right place at the right time," Mammon replies, withholding the details. But the First catches on, even if it's just by far.

"The Sandman?" the First probes.

Mammon considers his reply, "for the demons sake, I can't tell you." Mammon understands that keeping quiet will only shift his favour before the First's eyes. He's worked too hard and smart to rise the ranks. He can't afford to be sloppy, just when he's close enough to sitting on the throne.

"What do you care about one demon?" the First speaks with a disgusted tone in his voice.

"This one has proved to be useful," Mammon replies.

Chaos is still reigning in hell as the sounds of a battle not too far away rev up.

Khalid survived Nergal's torment, thanks to Constantine ripping apart Nergal's innate domain through his lack of despair for failing Astra. Since coming out from the domain, Khalid's been fighting to redeem himself for allowing himself to fall apart in the face of despair.

Their struggle is palpable throughout the Gutters. Each blow between Khalid and Nergal continues to test the stability of this arena. Yet, even as they remain in headlock, no demons intervene. Lackeys might, but only when they're ordered.

"What are those two on about?" the First questions as another wave of destructions hits them. Not that he cares, but this fight is disrupting his moment of revelling in Constantine's fall. Causing a fall, whether from grace or by gravity, is a demon's greatest achievement and the First won't have this squabble interfering with his enjoyment.

The First's about to intervene, pick whatever side he wishes. But before he can move, Mammon grunts, and the First understands why. There's an unnerving change in light as the atmosphere starts to shift.

"That flicker..." Mammon squints his eyes to peer into it closer.

"Mhh," the First ponders on the unnatural flicker. The demons around them shuffle nervously as the lights in hell dim further and then go out altogether. The clash between Nergal and Khalid takes a momentary halt as the event develops.

The smell of Sulphur starts to thin out, as it gets replaced by the rich fragrance of vanilla mixed with red roses and a hint of strawberry. It stings in hell, and the demons start to cough as if they've been flooded with a dozen rounds of Silver City's teargas.

The suffocation that follows only worsens when the actual flowers starts to grow in the desolate grounds of Hell. The acidic and infertile nature of Hell's soil does not bar the blooming of the small buds that form. To Nergal, this stinks of hope surging in a pit of despair, and it makes his skin crawl, giving Khalid the upper hand.

Khalid makes sure to take note of what's happening.

To Mammon, this might be a sign of Constantine's latest trick, and he gathers the courage to check Zatanna's body for a confirmation, with haste. On her left palm, he finds it: a talisman she clutches tightly. He doesn't recognize it, but he is certain of it. This... this is not good. He hurries to grab it before the worst can happen.

Meanwhile, to the First, this feels like the dawn of a great loss as he stares blankly at the ball in his hands. Zatanna's supposed soul snuffed out the dim lights of hell and persisted as the only flickering light. The First watches as the ball wilfully leaves his hands despite his firm grasp. The ball soars high and glows brighter with every increasing distance.

A sense of premonition washes over the First, and all the other demons, "Wha-... what is happening?"

Sweating, Mammon grabs the talisman from Zatanna's hand. He doesn't get the relief he expected. And- neither does anyone get enough time to prepare for what happens next. Only one thought lingers on everyone's mind, just as it happens: Constantine's warning:-

*"I can burn down Hell itself. So, I suggest you sorry sods bugger off before it's too late."*

BRHHHHOOOOMMM!

It's not clear where it starts, but it's certain what it does. Hell gets washed in a warm blinding white light that ignites everything it surrounds with a heavenly blaze. Demons ignite in white flames, painting Hell like it's the freaking fourth of July, while their screams get swallowed by a voice that speaks within the light:

"Across Heaven and Hell, I alone I'm the constant one."

The First takes Flight to save himself from the burning white light, his face full of unspoken fear. Nergal lies fallen; defeated at the hands of Fate and the glorious flames. Fate didn't stay to gloat.

Burning from the sudden fire, Mammon tries to escape by going underground like a badger or mole. Zatanna's body is still beside him, not spared by the blaze. In fact, she's burning hotter than anyone else in Hell. However, before Mammon, can completely bury himself in gold and escape, he notices something-...

Something like a white feather that brushes above Zatanna's exploding face before she vanishes away in a streak of white light. Mammon doesn't fail to hear an ethereal flap in the distance, before he digs deeper toward his underground escape portal.

"Hi hi! 🥺💖 So, I've been working REALLY hard on my big story called I'm Constantine! It's got magic and heroes and some super-duper cool stuff!! ✨ I've already got 30 chapters, but guess what?! If you wanna read more, I'm making it even bigger—up to 50 chapters early access!! 🎉

You can help me keep going by supporting me on Patreon! 🐱‍👤 It's like a special club where you get early access to my story before anyone else. (Cool, right?!) 🌟

Here's where you can join: Patreon.com/mimiclord 💌

If you do, I'll be SO happy, and you'll be my superhero forever! 💪🦸 Thank yooooouuuu!! 🥰"