[i][u]John Constantine: [b]Hellblazer[/b][/u][/i]
[u][i]Chapter 1, I[/i][/u]

It took about 100 meters and three turns from the Midnite Lounge for Constantine to find a suitable alleyway. The far side was a dead-end, blocked off by a low chain-link fence and several overflowing trash cans pressed up against it, and the three doors along the adjoining walls were dark and had collected dust on the handles. One was chained and padlocked. He liked his chances for privacy.

The Half-breed had followed him in. Of course he had. He’d followed John from the Lounge, John tempted to lose him (it wouldn't have been that difficult) but deciding it would be more useful to pry some information from his horned skull. John knew that the Half-breed didn't know him – Midnite had said his name enough while he was listening, and he hadn't been recognized either, so this devil knew nothing about his accomplishments, or the First’s stake of claim upon him. But he knew Astra and Nergal, or at least their names…so that confused John. Astra was Nergal’s only victory over Constantine, and it wasn't one he would soon let John forget about. So this Half-breed was either kept in the dark, found out information he wasn't meant to know, or just going on hearsay and rumors looking to make a name for himself, sucking up to some head Demon. John liked the first two. The third was idiotic, but it still allowed him some fun. John put his hands in his coat pocket as he walked up to a door, making it look like he was fumbling for keys as the half-breed rounded the corner into the alleyway.

“[i]You’re asking about things that could get you in trouble, Mortal.[/i]” He said, and John suppressed a scoff. Big talk for a reject. Guess he didn't figure John was much for power; guess he forgot who Papa Midnite lets in to the Other Room. He was a moron, then. John started to turn, look of innocence on his face – and pushed his head into a strong, leathery hand, which pushed his head into the hard metal of the door. John’s head rang. Christ, he hadn't expected him to be so quick. “[i]And look where it’s gotten you. Into trouble.[/i]” John felt hands clamp down on his shoulders and turn him around, pushing him back and holding him against the door. He pulled his left hand from his coat and pushed it to his temple, eyes screwed shut in pain. The half-breed chuckled. “[i]Head hurt, mate?[/i]” He asked, and John felt the hold loosen slightly in confidence. He chose that moment to bring his right hand up significantly quicker than his left, knuckles wrapped in metal, and bury it heavily into the left side of the half-breed’s face, following through and sending him tumbling to the ground. He lowered both his hands.

“Not as much as yours, [b]mate.[/b]” He said, and the Half-breed snarled, and then looked at John’s fist and the knuckleduster he held. Pure silver. Engraved. Crosses carved into the raised metal. And a strange subtle blur as the enchantment re-bolstered itself after such violent expenditure. Then he lifted a hand to where he’d been hit as it started to burn in agony. “What do you know about [b]Astra[/b], you half-horned son of a [b]bitch[/b].” Constantine demanded, raising his fist again. The half-breed chuckled.
“[i]You can’t do anything but [b]bruise [/b]me with that [b]trinket[/b], you stupid [b]hedge [/b]wizard. I’m not demon enough to die from [b]silver[/b].[/i]” 
Constantine smirked. “That’s what I was counting on.” He muttered, and then punched the half-breed again, rifling inside his jacket with his free hand for a fragile vial – which he then threw at the devil, letting it smash on his forehead and splash its contents over his face. The Half-breed started smoking, and soon screaming. John punched again, and skin cracked off, showing rotted flesh and vicious fangs beneath.

“[i]Holy water, you magician [b]bastard[/b]! You won’t get away with this, you can’t kill me, I can’t di-[/i]“ John cut him off with a knee heavily on his chest, and then put his knuckleduster away, replacing it with a small bible.
“Ever experienced redemption, Half-breed?” He spat as he flicked through the pages. “Demon, at the gates of Heaven. Love to be the fly on [b]that [/b]wall.” The Half-breed looked at him, eyes wild and defiant, but John saw the smallest flicker of fear.
“[i]You have no [b]authority[/b]! No [b]providence[/b]![/i]” He spat back, and John chuckled, pulling a pendant from his jacket. A small silver cross, hanging on rosary beads. Authentic. Convincing.

“Says [b]you[/b].” John said, and then held the pendant in his left hand over the Half-breed’s head as he read from the bible in his right. He spoke in prominent voice, acting the part, and trying not to enjoy himself too much. "May [b]God [/b]have [b]mercy [/b]on you, and may He grant you [b]pardon [/b]of your sins." The Half-breed strained his neck and tried to claw John's face, but he pulled his head sharply out of the way and pressed more weight onto his knee. "Whosoever sins You remit on Earth, they are remitted unto them in [b]Heaven[/b]!" The devil protested, weakly pushing at Constantine's knee and croaking ignorance. Constantine continued. "Grant Your [b]child [/b]into Thine kingdom, in the name of the [b]Father[/b], in the name of the [b]Son[/b], and in the name of the [b]Holy Spirit[/b]!" It writhed beneath him, and John reached to the sky, stretching his pendant toward Heaven as he finished the prayer: "[b]AME-[/b]"

"[i][b]Stop[/b]! Stop! I'll [b]tell [/b]you, I'll tell you everything I know! Just please, [b]stop[/b]![/i]" Constantine stopped, pocketing the bible and slipping the pendant to dangle around his wrist as he pulled his knee from the half-breed's chest and stood above the prone figure, eyes raining fury down upon him. "[i]I was born in Hell. Not many half-breed are, but I was. My mother and father were [b]human[/b], but Nergal was my patron. He slew my father and drew my mother into Hell, and gave his blood unto her womb so that I might feel his influence and serve him on Earth. I was born in Hell, in Nergal's kingdom.[/i]" Constantine pulled the half-breed up by the collars.
"Nergal doesn't [b]have[/b] a kingdom. Rosacarnis usurped his throne and was slain by the First. I [b]know[/b]. I was [b]there[/b]. That [b]kingdom [/b]isn't there anymore, and neither is [b]Nergal[/b]." The half-breed just shook his head meekly, panting in pain and exhaustion.
"[i]He lay dormant, gathered what strength he had, whispered into my ear as I grew. It felt like [b]millenia[/b]...[/i]" Constantine glared, but he was starting to believe it. Time in Hell was not related to time on Earth. "[i]He had some font of power, something [b]pure[/b] and [b]light[/b] and hidden away, something that didn't [b]belong[/b] - and he feasted on its energy. A direct link to providence, something of pure [b]divinity[/b]. I followed him one night, only once, and I saw it. Pure white, [b]beautiful[/b]. It saw me too. It...blinded Nergal, or held him back, and imprinted upon me a vision of a girl and a name. Nergal tried to slay me that night, to undo what I had learnt, but it [b]stopped[/b] him somehow and I escaped. I was at the Lounge because I wanted [b]protection[/b], safety, a fucking witness protection program! Midnite didn't want anything to do with it. He's [b]fucking[/b] neutral. And now, I'm going to [b]die[/b].[/i]"

Constantine let go, and the devil slumped to the ground, despair welling up in his core. John straightened up, and then helped the half-breed up off the floor.
"No you're not. You're under [b]my[/b] witness protection program now. And you're gonna [b]show[/b] me where you saw that soul. What's your name, devil."
The half-breed coughed and dusted himself down, wincing a little as his face ached and his veneer cracked a little more. 
"[i]Zziluhan.[/i]" He said, and John raised an eyebrow. 
"Well then, Zee, we better get going. New York ain't the place to be right now." They walked a few steps, and then Constantine stopped, turning to Zee with one hand pointed at him. "Oh, and for future reference - you have to [b]ask[/b] for redemption to be forgiven. [b]Asshole[/b]."