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Books of Magic
The War of Darkness and Lightby matthew_the_raven_2000,
jsagl and Martin Maenza
The Bunker, former headquarters of the Justice League of America when they were briefly based in Detroit and now the home of a brand new team calling itself the Conglomerate:
"Where did you find this group of morons, Sargon?" a blonde haired man in a dark brown suit said as he puffed on another cigarette. He had come to this place to seek the assistance of one person in particular, only to find himself being ridiculed by a group of costumed heroes. Still, the women were an interesting diversion for the eyes, especially the one with the long green hair.
"It is a long story, Constantine," replied the thin man in the high turban with a red stone prominently placed in front. His suit differed from the other man's in that it was more like a tuxedo. "I hardly expected to see you here."
"But you know why I'm here?" John Constantine asked.
Sargon pulled a small glass container out of his jacket, "Yes, you had sent out your little S.O.S. I put your message in a bottle, for safekeeping."
Constantine dropped his head in anguish, "When the bloody hell did you develop a sense of humor? Everyone's a damn comedian around here."
Sargon grinned at that one. "Your message portends an ominous mission ahead."
"Yeah, with all the recent changes brought about by the Crisis, the Darkness and the Light are preparing for war. We may be the only ones capable to tilt the balance."
"I see, a sort of synchronicity," Sargon replied. "And the others? Zatanna? Zatara? Baron Winters?"
Constantine dropped his cigarette to the ground and crushed it. "Zee's out of this one. Favor to the old man. Spoke with Zatara, Winters, Jason Blood, Dr. Occult and a few others. You in?"
"How'd you get a hold of Occult? He's still over on Earth-2." Sargon recalled fondly of the world upon which he was born, now cut off by the barriers that kept the five remaining Earths safe.
"Winters' house has some special properties," Constantine said. "We figured to do our business from there. That'll allow Occult to join us."
Sargon nodded. "What about Zatanna? I cannot imagine you accepting of her being kept on the sidelines. As I recall, it wasn't too long ago that you felt that every little thing she did was magic."
"Will you quit with the bloody Sting jokes already?" Constantine fumed.
"Sorry. This group must have unbalanced me mentally. Of course I shall help. How can I not?"
"Then lets get the hell out of here. Leave your friends a note. You may not be back."
Sargon stared at Constantine for a moment. "Very well then." Sargon grabbed a blank piece of paper. It glowed for a moment, then Sargon set it on the table. "Do I have time to get my affairs in order before we begin?"
"We can spare an hour or so, but remember: every move you make, I'll be watching you."
Now it was Sargon's turn to groan. The two men blended with the shadows, and then they were gone.
***
Earth-2, outside a deceptive tower of a building in Salem, a detective in a tan trench coat waited as the rain started to fall. "He just loves to keep me waiting," the man said as he flipped up his collar. Between it and his wide brimmed hat, he hoped to remain dry. "At least he could do is set up some kind of awning or something, for nights like this."
Suddenly, a brilliant flash of light appeared in the air, in the shape of a golden ahnk. The detective had to shield his eyes as a figure emerged from it and hovered in the air before him. He was dressed in blue robes with a long flowing golden cape. A featureless golden helmet covered his head and face completely. "Why do you seek me, Occult?"
The ghost detective huffed. "Good to see you too, Fate."
"I have not time for pleasantries," Fate's voice resounded through the air. "Something stirs that seeks my undivided attention."
"I hear that," Dr. Occult replied. "I think I picked up on the same bad vibes." He held up a round object with a dark cross shape down the center. "I've received a summons to a little mystic confab..."
"And that concerns me how?" Fate asked.
"Figured I'd summon all the help I could get from our world. You, the Spectre...?"
"You are on your own, Occult!" Fate said. "I must go!" And with that, the magical hero disappeared as quickly as he came.
Occult shook his head. Thunder rumbled in the sky and lightning danced about. "Well, I tried," he said to himself before opening a slice to the astral plane and passing on through it.
***
To the casual observer, it appeared to be nothing more than an ancient house in Georgetown, originating back to the earliest days of this country. Some said it was haunted; others said it was cursed. Most locals knew to steer clear of it just the same. For this place was the residence of the mystic known as Baron Winters, and it served as a base of operations for his group known collectively as the Night Force.
But the house had another peculiar trait to it as well. It was built upon a dimensional nexus, a gateway between worlds. In most recent times, it took on a special purpose, for the house appeared in the exact same spot on all five of the remaining Earths. And while it acted like a bridge between worlds, it also came with a limitation. When a person leaves the dwelling, they return back to the Earth from whence they entered. It was for this reason that John Constantine asked folks to meet him there, for the threat coming could easily jeopardize more than one Earth.
Sargon's mood changed as they entered the old gothic manor. "Again, I ask: why should I help you? During the Crisis, I stood before the dawn of time to aid humanity, and preserve five Earths. Haven't I done enough?"
John Constantine shook his head. The sorcerer was every bit as moody has he had heard. The guy flip-flopped his attitude at the drop of hat. He could use one of those bloody mood rings from the 70's just to figure out which way Sargon was facing now. He hoped the mystic ruby that the man used wasn't effecting his brain again, as it had in the past. They needed all the help they could get.
"We've been over this," the English man sighed. "We need someone mystically adept of your experience. You've noticed how the psychic atmosphere's changed this last year... outbreaks of lycanthropy, vampirism, reanimation, you name it. The Brujeria did that as a prelude to the annihilation of everything good."
Sargon scoffed. "Good? What do I care for good? In my life, I have embraced both good and evil, thus my knowledge of both could be complete. Sargon the Sorcerer does not play favorites!"
"You'll fit right at home here then," Constantine said as they crossed the hallway. "Neither does Baron Winters. But he offered us the use of his house without question."
Sargon stroked his chin as if pondering something "Winters did?" He glanced about the finely decorated structure with a keen eye. "Hmmm... I should like to see all of the interior of this fascinating house. He guards its secrets so jealously."
"No time for that," the English man cautioned. "We'll be getting into some dangerous territory once things start happening..."
"Dangerous?" Sargon scoffed. "Please, young man. Don't concern yourself on my account. I've been there many, many times and have been doing this type of stuff since the days you were in diapers."
A man entered from the front foyer. "Is there a problem here? I heard raised voices all the way down the walk." The newcomer wore a gold and blue costume. His long wavy brown hair and beard were scraggly. He held something under his one arm.
"There's nothing to worry about, Dayton," John Constantine assured the arrival. "We've got it all planned out."
Mento shook his head. "Sure, Constantine. That's what you said about the five Earth dimensions merging together into one whole universe awhile back. You saw how long that lasted!"
Constantine lit a cigarette. The smell of the particular brand of cigarette filled the air. "Okay... so I was wrong about. It was a far-fetched knee-jerk scenario, anyway. Five Earths. One Heaven. One Hell. That's all you need to know to deal with this problem."
Mento grabbed his temples and groaned slightly.
Sargon looked at him curiously. "Are you all right? You don't look well."
"I'm fine!" Mento snapped.
Constantine placed a hand on Steve Dayton's shoulder. "Are you sure?"
Mento paused, noticing the watchful eye of Sargon. He then leaned in closer and dropped his voice to a whisper. "My mind, John. I... I don't know if I can take this kind of pressure."
Constantine tried to ease the mind of his old friend. "Relax. There's no worry. Earth-1 made it out of the Crisis intact. We can certainly make it out of this spot of trouble too. You did bring the helmet like I requested?"
Mento nodded. "Yes," he said, "of course. I don't see why you need my helmet though with these various magic types about." He noticed a dark haired beauty enter the building. She was dressed in a blue and white costume. He recognized her instantly as Zatanna, a member of the Justice League.
Constantine frowned at her arrival but kept talking to Dayton. "Magic isn't everything. Believe me, your helmet is a major factor in our strategy."
Zatanna coldly walked past the three men without saying a word; the only sound was her heels clicking on the hard wood floors. She entered the study at the end of the hall, obviously familiar with the place.
Sargon waited for her to pass out of earshot. He then turned to Constantine. "I guess she marches to her own tune, eh, John? No wonder why you two never lasted long as a couple."
The Englishman ignored the comment and turned back to Mento. "Come, Steve. Let's do go on, and test out your helmet." The three headed for the study as well.
Before they could step three feet in the door, John Constantine felt a firm hand grab him by the right arm. "A word with you, Constantine!" said the usually calm and collected John Zatara. The trim older man dressed in a stage magician's tuxedo with top hat was surprisingly strong for his build. He pulled the Englishman into the alcove of the room to speak with him in private.
"Zatara?" Constantine said. "I know what you're about to say..."
John Zatara could barely contain his rage, and he roughly shoved the blonde man to the floor. "Damn you, man! You promised me!"
Constantine attempted to keep his cool despite the situation. The last thing they need right now was a blow up to send everyone packing. "Look, I'm sorry..." he started to apologize.
"You promised me that my daughter would be spared this!" the magician continued. "You said the Justice League would keep her too busy to be involved, yet there she is... in that room!"
Picking himself up off the floor, Constantine straightened his jacket. He reached into the inside pocket and pulled out another cigarette. At this rate, he'd be through the pack in no time. He placed it in his mouth and lit the end. "I'm not too happy about that myself, gov'ner," he said. "I... care about her too, but you know how headstrong she can be. I didn't exactly see you booting her out of the room either."
Zatara's face barely contained his anger. "!Rettahs" Energy crackled as a bolt of pure magic released from his fingers, brought on by his reverse-spoken magic spell. It shot past Constantine and crumbled one of the statues in the corner. All that remained was a pile of dust.
Constantine was surprised by the near-hit attack. "God, Zatara!" he exclaimed. "Winters will have a fit if we go and trash the place!"
The magician scowled. "Winters'll be the least of your problems!" He leaned in close, his eyes seething. "You gave me your word, Constantine, and you failed. If anything happens to my precious Zatanna this day, I will kill you myself! Of that, I hope you have no doubt. !Niojer srehto" In a flash of light, John Zatara vanished, returning to the gathering back in the study.
Constantine took a long drag on his cigarette and exhaled, blowing a smoke ring that turned into a pentagram. As he exited the alcove, a tune popped into his head... "King of Pain... I will always be King of Pain..."
***
When Constantine finally rejoined the others in the study, he noticed a large table had been set up. Sargon and Mento were placing the chairs about it while Zatara and his daughter were over conversing with another newcomer.
Constantine moved over to Mento who had donned his special helmet as he was instructed. With a whisper, he said to Dayton, "that bloke's Dr. Occult, visiting from Earth-2. I don't know him very well. I had hoped he would bring some big guns with him. Could you check him out for me, Steve?"
Mento frowned. "I'm trying," he whispered. A bead of sweat formed on his brow beneath the helmet; he wiped it away. "He's genuine enough. I can tell that at least. I sense great age and power from him." He paused. "Incredible! He's aware of my presence and shutting me out of his mind!"
Constantine nodded silently. The man did have a reputation; he was pleased to see if was up to snuff. Perhaps they would be fine as long as the others were in place. "All right," he said, clapping his hands to get everyone's attention. "If you all would take a seat, we can get started." The six gathered around the table and sat. The English man could feel the tension in the room, and they had not even started.
He had hoped for a larger number, but he decided this would have to suffice. Seven was an optimal number for magical circles. They were one short. Would that cause the problems down the road? He cursed Winters. The man had offered his place but somehow made himself scarce. Just like him to let others do all the dirty work.
Constantine shook his head. They had best begin before things got too far along to be halted. "If everyone would clasp hands..."
"Beware!" a voice boomed in the room, seemingly coming from everywhere but no body was associated to it. "You tamper with things that do not concern you!"
The others looked around in surprise and amazement at this.
Constantine held his ground. "Who are you?" he called out to the air.
"I am the wizard Shazam, and keeper of the mystical barrier between the Earths! I warn you again, tread carefully least you bring about more trouble than you bargained for!"
Constantine was not about to be ordered about by someone who didn't even bother to make their appearance known. Still, if this wizard had the power to speak to them from across the worlds, he would consider the warning. "Point taken! We'll be careful!"
There was the sound of rolling thunder that seemed to move through the house. And, as quickly as Shazam's voice came, it was gone.
"All right then," Constantine said. "Let's take hands and begin!"
***
For over an hour, the six beings combined their talents to peer into the magical dimension beyond the worlds. They were starting to grow weary, but their leader edged them on. "Let's continue," Constantine said "Enough looking around here on Earth-1. Those spirit dimensions, outside the five earths."
Mento continued to doubt his being with this group. Then, he squinted at the swirling cloud above the table as something came into focus. "I see a bird. A crow flying over Hell." At least, Hell was what the place looked like. Then, something came to him in his mind. "My God, it used to be a woman! It's got a black pearl in its beak, made entirely of shadows, dreads and fears."
Dr. Occult scowled. "I know. Kind of reminds me of that Obsidian kid in Infinity Inc. back on my Earth."
"I wouldn't know," Mento replied. Something was happening in the image. "The pearl. It's fallen." The seven watched it plummet, the image remaining focused on the small object until it reached the floors of Hell.
"There's a giant mass rising from Hell's black ocean!" Zatara announced. "It's huge... Monstrous!"
Constantine gritted his teeth. "It's time!"
Sargon rolled his eyes at the man's dramatic way. "It's about time. Are we truly ready to do something more than be a bunch of peeping Tom's?"
Constantine started to explain. "I suppose so. I've worked out all possible outcomes of this conflict from a merged Earth. Things would not go so well at all if that were so, but seeing that we exist in the first of five universes, all of them touching the single afterlife, that gives us five different lifelines, instead of just one."
Mento shook his head. "Forget the explanations! Just tell you're sure this is going to be safe?"
"As long as Baron Winter's house stays ground here on Earth-1, Steve, we should be," Constantine said. "I know the others trust me." He glanced about the room, but the looks were hardly that reassuring. He figured it was no point in polling the group.
Time to act. "Now, here is what we shall do! The five of us will send out combined mystical energies and focus them through Dayton's helmet. In turn, the energies will go to our champions I sent to Hell to fight the Primordial Darkness."
Zatanna was surprised by this. "Champions? Who's there?"
Constantine ticked off the names. "Swamp Thing, Deadman, The Phantom Stranger, Etrigan, Dr. Fate, the Spectre..."
Dr. Occult nodded knowingly. So, that was where Fate was off to. Still, he voiced a concern. "Science and sorcery combined can be an explosive combination. I hope you know what you're doing."
Constantine kept his cool. "If there was only one Earth, I'd worry. But seeing as how we've got five chances to get it right..." The group glared at him. "Can't anyone take a joke?"
Mento felt more concern. With recent events up to and after the Crisis, he had been through his very own personal hell. Now his so-called friend wanted him to face an even bigger one. "I don't know if I'm up to something like Hell..."
Constantine gave the man sitting next to him a reaffirming squeeze. "It's only the Shadowlands, Steve. It can't kill you, but it certainly can trample over Heaven's light, destroying it."
Mento felt a surge in his head, a pain like before. "Please, don't make me go on with this," he begged softly.
Zatanna chimed in. "He's serious, Constantine!" She only called him by his last name when she was angry with him, and her face showed that. This was a far cry from when they had been involved years ago. It appeared that they would unlikely ever be that close again. "My father and I changed our minds about not coming to your aid, and we both agreed with you and went along with all of this. But you can't force Mr. Dayton to go on. Not when he's clearly so scared!"
Mento gritted his teeth as his head throbbed further. "I can't do this. I'm not strong enough."
Dr. Occult said, "a man is as strong as he will let himself be. That is the first truth of magic. And the very reason I was capable of making my journey here to Earth-1."
"And you did it all without the help of Rose," Sargon chided. "Where is that little pretty these days, Occult?" The detective merely scowled at the turban wearing sorcerer.
Mento swallowed hard and choked back the pain. Here he was, a man respected in the world of business and industry. He had these great mental abilities, albeit focused through the special helmet he wore upon his head. He was not about to let a group a stage show sleight-of-hand magicians think less of him. "All right! I have no real choice now, do I?"
"That's the spirit!" Constantine praised him.
In the vision, a yellow skinned monstrosity dressed in red with a purple cape leapt into the fray. Savagely, the demonic figure mowed down every thing that tried to stay his advances. It soon set to work on the main target. "Etrigan's charging the thing!" Mento relayed to the others. "Killing every demon that gets in his way. Now he's going into it. So cold..."
"Feed Etrigan our combined energy, Steve!" Constantine ordered. "He needs it to fight back!" Indeed, the mystic energies swirled about the room to Mento's helmet and then broadcast to the battlefield so far away.
"It's too late!" Mento cried out. "That thing just chewed him up and spit him back out!" Indeed, the Demon's hellfire was no match for the monstrous fury.
"Now what's happening?" Constantine asked.
Mento frowned. "It sees us somehow! It know we aided the Demon. It's going to kill all of us!"
"No, it won't!" Constantine promised. "I've made plans..."
Suddenly, smoke began to rise from Sargon's chest. "Power buildup! I'm burning, from the inside out!"
Zatanna screamed. "John, he's smoldering! He's going to combust!"
Sargon scowled defiantly. "No! I won't permit it. I am Sargon... this cannot happen!"
"Sargon! Earth X is currently at the apex!" Constantine shouted. "Project the energy burning you up, and send it there! As close to the upper atmosphere as you can! Now!"
"I'm attempting to, but..."
"Hurry, man!"
There was a surge and a discharge. Sargon leaned back in his chair, relaxed, but kept the circle held. "See, I told you there was no need to be concerned."
Zatanna exclaimed, "Oh, thank God!"
Constantine frowned slightly. He hoped it wouldn't come to this, but he saw that the enemy was much stronger than anticipated. Still, he had to keep up the group's moral. "See? I told you it could be done. Now we fight on..."
Zatanna sat concerned. That was too close for her; Sargon could have been killed. They needed to find a way to prevent a psychic backlash of their powers. "The shadow must be larger than Hell itself," she eventually said.
"It is!" Mento replied. "We're a distraction. It wants us dead, to leave it alone!"
"Dayton, keep it together!" Constantine warned. "It's going to be a sight bloody tougher if you don't cooperate! What's happening now?"
Mento continued the commentary "Dr. Fate! He's being diverted, fighting some of Hell's demons. Old enemies of the JLA and JSA. But Fate is getting too close to the giant shadow." Mento winced at what he saw. "It's got him! It broke him down, like it did with Etrigan, only faster!"
Zatara grew concerned. "Isn't there anyone who can aid Fate?"
Occult scoffed. "His arrogance will be his down fall."
"I can see the shadow starting to move again," Mento said. Then he cried out. "Aaaaaahhh! It's coming at us again! What if it succeeds this time? What if one of us burns out this time?"
"Dayton, if you don't bloody shut up..."
Zatanna squirmed slightly in her seat. "Is it getting hotter in here?" When she got no reply, she realized what it was. "Oh God, I think I'm going to burn up!"
Zatara squeezed his daughter's hand. "No! I will not allow it! Not my daughter! Ssenkrad, ekat em daetsni!"
Zatanna realized what was going on about her. "Father, no! Don't do this! This can't happen to you! Take back the spell, please! I don't want to lose you! Take the spell back!"
The older magician's body started to smolder as Sargon's had before. "I fear it is much too late for that," he gasped as his top hat burst into flames. "We all knew the risk of this venture going into it. A true hero would never turn his back when needed."
"Father! No!"
"Show your courage, daughter," Zatara said calmly despite the fire in his very core being.
Zatanna was crying now. "No... not you! Oh please!" She fought every instinct that she could to break the circle, to use all of her power to protect her father. But, she knew, if she did so she would jeopardize them all! This did not make what was happening any easier to swallow.
As the smoke and flames engulfed him, Zatara stared at John Constantine. "If you do not deliver my daughter safely from this place, Constantine, my shade shall hound you throughout all eternity. Is that understood?"
The English man's eyes grew wide. "Wait, Zatara! The apex is over Earth-2. Expel it now and perhaps you will be spared!"
Zatara nodded. "I can only pray..." The energy level in the room surged once more as it had done earlier. This time, however, when the wave subsided, the flames about the chair vanished and took the master magician with it!
Zatanna choked on her tears. "He's gone? Daddy? Daddy!"
Constantine, like the others, felt the loss but did not have time to grieve. "Occult, the circle!" The trench coated detective nodded, dove across the table and took Zatanna's free hand while still keeping the other hold Sargon's. It was uncomfortable, but he knew the circle needed to remain strong or else.
Mento's mind was focused on the battlefield. A figure of white with a green cowl and cape appeared. "The Spectre! He's in Hell, facing the thing. It's too big. Too massive. Even for him." Mento recalled how the Spectre was able to expand his size during the Crisis to speak to all the captive Earths at once. "Wait, he's getting bigger." And, in doing so, it allowed Mento to have a better understanding of the opponent they were battling.
"Is he fighting it?" Occult asked.
Mento nodded. "Yes!. He's fearless!" Indeed, the ghostly guardian used whatever means at his disposal to pound at the shadow beast. But even his efforts were not enough. Mento frowned. "Wait, I've lost him! He's gone."
"So much for that idea...," Sargon said.
"I have him again!" Mento said, his view clearer thanks to an adjustment in the helmet. "Oh no! It's dropped him. The Spectre's failed! It's beaten him! That was our last shot, and we blew it! The shock wave leaving him - it'll burn away all of us!"
Constantine was still focused on the view of the Earths. "The apex is almost at Earth-S," he announced.
"Almost isn't good enough!" Mento cried. "The fire's coming now!"
"Shut up, Dayton!" Constantine ordered. He turned to the woman in the room. "Now listen, Zatanna. We need to push the brunt of the blast upward into the apex, straight onto Earth-S. It's bound to go on past us, if you can redirect it."
"I don't know," she started to say.
"You can do it, missy!" Sargon encouraged. "We'll be there to back you up."
"Yes!" Occult agreed.
Nodding, Zatanna closed her eyes and choked back all the sadness. This was what her father had always taught her to do. She couldn't let his sacrifice be in vain. "Okay. Here goes everything!" She began a backward incantation, so long and so fast that it was barely decipherable by those seated at the table.
The entire room burst into flames, the mystic fire dancing all about them! The whole place had a weird, eerie green glow to it! But, it was mystic fire. It was targeted and had a purpose. Baron Winters home would not face any damage from it; it was here for the occupants of this room alone.
Constantine gritted his teeth. Come on, girl! You can do it!
Suddenly, the fire swirled violently about them and then expelled itself. A burst shot through the cosmos and beyond where it consumed itself harmlessly.
Zatanna fell back in her chair. "Was that enough?" The others were cheering; she got her answer and smiled slightly. But the victory was bitter sweet.
***
From his vantage point on the Rock of Eternity, Shazam saw the burst of mystic fire streak across the heavens of Earth-S. The bearded old wizard just shook his head silently.
The fools! They actually managed to accomplish something despite my warnings.
He turned his attention back to the mystic barriers between worlds, to insure they remained intact and strong.
***
The group had dodged another bullet, but the battle was not over yet. "What about the Swamp Thing? What's he doing?" Constantine asked.
Mento gasped. "You don't understand. That thing has beaten the Spectre! The Swamp Thing can't do anything against it!"
Constantine looked flustered "Damn it, Dayton! This is what I prepared Swamp Thing for! This is why I told you I was so interested in him. To understand both the Crisis and this resulting aftershock from it!"
"Swamp Thing is just standing there, with the Phantom Stranger," Mento replied. Indeed, the muck encrusted man-creature stood next to the mysterious one in the dark blue suit and flowing dark blue cape. "They are both gazing up at the shadow. They're standing right in front of it. No way to escape. The Stranger is so uncertain. He's turning away, afraid to look. But the Swamp Thing... he's walking right into it! He's gone... inside of it!"
Constantine breathed a sigh of relief. "Now we wait..."
"Wait for what?" Sargon asked. "For the shadow to spit him out too? Wait for the energy we've just given Swamp Thing to come back here to fry us, because we've used up all our chances?"
Constantine smiled. "You'll see."
The room was silent for a moment. All eyes went back and forth between the leader of this circle and their conduit. Finally, the later one gasped. "You were right!" Mento exclaimed. "It didn't eat him, like the others! He walked out of it unharmed. But he didn't do any good. It's rising up out of the ground, ascending toward Heaven!"
"What now?" Dr. Occult asked.
Before anyone could offer a suggestion, Mento continued. "The Spectre sees it. He's down on his knees, with his hands together. He must be praying, asking that God to forgive him for his failure."
"What of the shadow?"
"From the light, I see... a hand made of light! It's bigger, more brilliant than Heaven and Hell put together. The Spectre knows what it is! He's speaking its name. The Presence!"
Mento watched and conveyed what he saw next. The right hand of the Presence descended, as the Primordial Shadow also formed a right hand of its own, reaching upward. Both hand clasped firmly.
"I don't understand..." Mento cried.
Constantine knew what it meant. "Steve! Put your head down on the table."
The pain throbbed now from all sides. "It hurts!" Mento then did as his friend asked.
"Good," Constantine continued. "Now, I want you to slide your head out of the helmet. Hurry now!"
Mento did as he was instructed. His hair was damp from sweat. He looked up at the others. "Is... is it over yet?"
"Almost," Constantine said. "The final shock wave's not here yet." Suddenly, Mento's empty helmet began to spark and then eventually explode harmless on the table before them.
Constantine stared up in the air and spoke as if someone above was there. "That's it? No big explosion killing us all? After Newcastle, I'd have expected more."
"That would be my doing," Zatanna said. "I opened the apex and sent the final burst of our energy over Earth-4."
Constantine could hardly say he was surprised. He knew the woman had incredible resolve. She was a strong, independent woman. She had survived so many years alone while searching for her father. He knew that she would now survive again now that Zatara was gone. That part saddened Constantine slightly. Zatanna was strong and thus would have no need for the comforting of him. But, in some ways, that's part of the reason he loved her.
Sargon picked up on the English man's melancholy look. "If you love someone, set them free..." he said. Constantine winced at the statement.
Dr. Occult consulted his mystic amulet. "The mystical energy seems to have discharged itself. We can release each other's hands now. The circle has served its purpose."
Just then, Baron Winters entered the room. The dark haired man stared about at the place with a disdainful eye. "Quite a racket you make, Constantine. Remind me to charge you more next time you wish to disrupt my home."
John Constantine reached into his jacket pocket, pulled out his pack and lit a cigarette. He had been dying for one of these for quite some time now. "Put it on my tab, Winters. We'll settle up another time."
"What about my helmet?" Mento cried. "It'll take me a long time to rebuild the damn thing!"
"That gadget could have exploded on your head, you know," Sargon reminded him. "Count yourself fortunate."
Zatanna rose from the table and left the room. Their business here had ended, and the crisis had been averted. She no longer felt the need to sit about with these men. It was time to mourn the passing of her father.
Constantine let her go instead of running after her. She didn't need that. Dayton was still going on about the helmet. "Steve, look at this way. Mento's fresh and full of life!"
Occult looked oddly at the comment while Sargon burst out laughing.
"Fine!" Mento said, grabbing the remains of his equipment. Surprisingly, it was cool to the touch. "I'll just go home to my mansion and try to forget this whole thing ever happened!" And with that, he stormed out of the room.
Dr. Occult stood. "It is time for me to part as well. I have duties back on my own world." And with that, he made for the door. He gave Baron Winters a slight bow before exiting. That left only Sargon and John Constantine to help tidy things up before departing as well.