QUEEN OF ANGELS.

Venerable readers, I hope you are staying strong in this month's challenge. Relax and enjoy this chapter.

"Allow me to advise you to tread carefully and cordially in my presence. I am not only doing this but stopping you from messing bigger things up in the future. And this skill I am using just slows time to an extreme degree that it seems time has stopped," the Slayer explained.

'Bullocks! Then you must need an astronomical amount of energy to hold it up for this long. This skill would be useful in taking down Nergal,' John thought.

"You can speak now. But this skill is overkill for a miscreant like Nergal. I slay demons professionally," the Slayer said with a tone of pride in his voice.

"And you know magic as well? I don't see how you need me," John answered.

"But if you can, then tell me what's going on down there. Apparently, someone or something is causing a racket that is making Mexican immigration to the US look like the kind of news you see at the scroll bar on the telly. Many of them have kept a low profile ever since some big names took care of them, but something's wrong," John stated, looking for telling signs and trying to get a read on the Slayer with his detective skills.

"Don't worry your little head about such things. When you meet Nergal, I will handle the rest," the Slayer answered.

"Can you get… Can you save Astra and Trish?" John asked.

"Do you even know me to ask me this?" the Slayer asked.

"You clearly want something from me. And I want something from you. I reckon we have a deal here, don't ya think?" John smirked.

"Double-crossing me will be quite the experience for you. Haha, and I am looking forward to it," the Slayer smirked as well, his eyes glowing bright golden for half a second.

"I have never heard of the Slayer before. I might as well get acquainted before showing off my resume, aye?" John joked.

"I will be seeing you, John," the Slayer said as his figure began to vanish and John took the initiative to return to his seat as time flowed normally once more.

"What's wrong, John? You look like you had just seen a ghost," Chas asked, noticing John breaking out in a cold sweat in the air-conditioned space.

"Haha, Chas, you wouldn't believe me even if I told you," John teased as his thoughts went back.

'Was that one of the so-called new gods?' John thought as he leaned back in his chair.

In a Plane Heading for Los Angeles

Soon enough, John and Chas arrived in Los Angeles safely and left for the address Nergal had provided. The cityscape was bathed in the golden hues of the setting sun, casting long shadows across the streets as they drove through the bustling metropolis.

Even Chas, who didn't practice magic, could feel the demonic aura and stench of the place. The building they arrived at was a dark, gothic manor, its spires reaching ominously into the evening sky. The duo parked their rented car before the manor and approached the heavy wooden door, which creaked open before they could knock.

"What appeared to be a pigman in a suit and bow tie answered the door.

"Master Nergal has been expecting you," the pigman said with an oink, leading the duo inside.

The interior of the mansion was even more unsettling, with dark, ornate furniture and eerie, flickering candlelight casting grotesque shadows on the walls. Chas felt a chill run down his spine and wanted to finish whatever business they had with Nergal quickly, but suddenly, he had his consciousness swapped for another.

"If you don't mind, please wait here while I notify Master Nergal of your arrival," the pigman escorted the duo to a waiting room and left them be.

"John Constantine!" Chas said in a voice that was both feminine and masculine.

"Oh, bullocks! Is that you, Slayer?" John asked whatever was embodying Chas.

"No, I am the spirit of Los Angeles, her city, her people, her love, her sadness, her anger, her hope, and her defence against metaphysical and spiritual threats. The Queen of Angels!" the Queen of Angels introduced herself.

"Queen of Angels, aye? Not a bad place to set up a meeting and time either. Sorry, but I am fully booked," John quipped.

"There's something going on in the city that is making the demons act frantically and even escape through some portals that opened last night. I took care of some of them, but I fear that the matter is more delicate than I expected," the Queen of Angels explained.

"And?" John asked, wanting to get straight to the point and deal with Nergal.

"The souls of my city are threatened by this demon outbreak. If you can help me get rid of this, I can help you with Nergal," the Queen of Angels offered a deal that seemed reasonable.

'Shouldn't I take this offer from this suspicious lass of Angels? But the Slayer said he would take care of Nergal for me. But I am here for Chas's daughter first, even though I want my revenge for what happened in Newcastle,' John thought while maintaining eye contact with Chas.

"There's no time. Nergal is moving towards here with that swine," the Queen of Angels said, trying to hasten John's decision-making. Getting someone as renowned as John Constantine to help sanitize her city of demons was something that was needed immediately.

Many were reported missing last night but were, in reality, killed and their souls absorbed by demons, some of whom met the wrath of the Queen of Angels.

"Next time, why don't you buy me a drink first before asking me to work?" John turned to face the door of the waiting room, expecting Nergal.

"Tch! Stop being stubborn! You need help!" the Queen of Angels lost patience and pulled on John's collar.

"I am not sure now is the time or place for that, sweetheart," John teased until a door opened.

"Why, what do we have here? The Queen of Angels? Here to strike a bargain?" a deep voice from a Naga-like creature with folded wings slithered past the door in quick motions behind the Queen of Angels, who possessed Chas.

Dropping the act, the Queen of Angels shifted out of Chas's body into the form of an attractive, slender yet curvaceous woman with a well-proportioned body accentuated by her tight skirt.

Do you guys remember the Queen of angels in that John constantine animated movie?

What did you think of Fred dealing with John who has even conned the devil himself? WHat did you think of the chapter? 

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