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The safehouse was a revelation. Constantine had expected another cramped apartment, maybe some basic wards if he was lucky. Instead, he found a converted warehouse loft that had been magically expanded and reinforced. Protective sigils covered every surface some he recognized, others that were distinctly Eastern in origin. Danny's influence, no doubt.
"Not bad," Constantine muttered, dropping his coat on a chair. The space had everything sleeping area, kitchen, combat training zone, and most impressively, a magical workshop that would make most practitioners weep with envy.
He was examining a shelf of mystical texts when his mobile buzzed. Strange.
"Constantine. I heard about the incident at Inferno."
"Word travels fast."
"When a demon nightclub explodes in Midtown, people notice." Strange's tone was dry. "I also heard you've aligned yourself with Heroes for Hire."
"Temporarily." Constantine pulled out a bottle of whiskey from the kitchen good stuff, surprisingly. Cage had taste. "We have compatible interests."
"Be careful. Mephisto doesn't forget slights. You've cost him resources and embarrassed one of his operations. He'll retaliate."
"Let him try." Constantine poured himself a drink. "I've been marked by Hell lords before. Still standing."
"Pride, John. It's what damned you before."
The words stung because they were true. Constantine took a long drink before responding. "I know what I'm doing."
"Do you?" Strange sighed. "I'm not trying to lecture. But you're in a new reality with new rules. The demons here play different games. Don't assume your experience translates perfectly."
"Noted. Anything else?"
"Yes. There's someone I'd like you to meet. A specialist in demonic contracts and Hell law. She's been helping me track Mephisto's operations for years."
Constantine's interest piqued. "She?"
"Her name is Jennifer Kale. Sorceress, from a family that's dealt with dark magic for generations. She's based in Louisiana but travels frequently. I've asked her to come to New York. She can help with your assault on Abaddon Industries."
"Another ally." Constantine smiled grimly. "I'm collecting them like trading cards."
"Better than collecting enemies. Jennifer will arrive tomorrow evening. Meet her at the Sanctum."
After Strange hung up, Constantine sat in the quiet loft, nursing his whiskey. Allies. He'd come to this reality alone, burned every bridge in his home universe, and expected to operate solo. But here he was working with the Sorcerer Supreme, teaming up with street-level heroes, about to meet a specialist in demon law.
It was almost like having a team.
The thought should have terrified him. Constantine's track record with teams was... poor. Newcastle had taught him what happened when he tried to lead people. But maybe that was the difference he wasn't leading. He was collaborating. Equal partners working toward a common goal.
Maybe that could work.
A knock at the door interrupted his thoughts. Constantine's hand went to his pocket, fingers closing around a protection charm. "Who is it?"
"Colleen Wing."
The name meant nothing to him. Constantine approached the door cautiously, keeping to the side in case someone tried shooting through it. "Don't know you."
"Danny sent me. Said you'd be here."
Constantine cracked the door open, keeping the chain lock engaged. A woman stood in the hallway Japanese, maybe late twenties, with a sword strapped across her back and an expression that suggested she didn't suffer fools.
"Prove it," Constantine said.
Without warning, she held up her hand. Golden chi energy flickered across her palm not as intense as Iron Fist's, but unmistakably the same source.
Constantine opened the door fully. "You're one of them. Iron Fist's people."
"Student, technically." Colleen entered with the casual confidence of someone who knew she could handle herself. "Though I've surpassed the basics. Danny asked me to check on you, make sure you settled in alright."
"Thoughtful of him." Constantine closed the door. "Though I can manage without a babysitter."
"Not a babysitter. An introduction." Colleen moved to the kitchen, pulling out Chinese takeout containers from a bag Constantine hadn't noticed. "Danny and Luke have a network people who help with cases, provide support, cover different specialties. They want you to meet everyone."
"Everyone?"
"Some of everyone." Colleen started unpacking food. "I run a dojo in Chinatown. Teach martial arts, but also serve as a contact point for the supernatural community. When demons start causing trouble, I hear about it."
Constantine grabbed plates, his stomach reminding him he hadn't eaten since yesterday. "Supernatural community. That's a thing here?"
"Of course." Colleen loaded his plate with lo mein and kung pao chicken. "You think demons and vampires just randomly cause chaos? There's organization, territories, rules. Someone has to monitor it, maintain the balance."
They sat at the small table. Constantine had to admit, the food was excellent.
"Tell me about this community," he said between bites.
Colleen settled into what was clearly a familiar topic. "In New York alone, we've got dozens of players. The vampires have their courts Blade keeps them in check mostly. The werewolf packs stick to the outer boroughs. Demons are more scattered but generally answer to Hell lords like Mephisto or Dormammu. Then there are independent practitioners like you and me."
"And Heroes for Hire fits where?"
"They're the neutral party. Luke and Danny don't care about supernatural politics they just stop people from getting hurt. Makes them trusted by all sides." Colleen studied him. "Which is why you working with them is significant. You're an unknown quantity. Powerful magician from another reality, no established loyalties. People are nervous."
"Should they be?"
"I don't know. Should they?"
Constantine met her gaze. "I'm here to do a job. Stop Mephisto's soul trafficking, maybe take down a few demons along the way. I don't give a damn about supernatural politics."
"That's what I told them." Colleen smiled slightly. "But actions matter more than words. Tonight at Inferno you saved those kids. Word's already spreading. The magician from another world who fights for the innocent."
"Christ." Constantine lit a cigarette. "That's the last thing I need. A reputation for heroics."
"Too late." Colleen's smile widened. "Welcome to New York, Constantine. Where even bastards become heroes if they're not careful."
They ate in companionable silence for a while. Then Colleen pulled out a tablet, showing him a map of Manhattan marked with various symbols and zones.
"This is the current territorial map," she explained. "Red zones are demon-controlled. Blue is vampire. Green is neutral ground. Yellow is human authority police, government, etc."
Constantine studied it. Manhattan was a patchwork of overlapping jurisdictions. "Complicated."
"More than you know. See this section in Hell's Kitchen? That's where Luke and Danny operate. It's neutral ground by treaty no supernatural power is supposed to establish operations there without permission from the community council."
"But Mephisto did anyway."
"Exactly. Inferno was a violation. Which means Luke and Danny had legal grounds to shut it down." Colleen zoomed in on the building Cage had shown him earlier. "Abaddon Industries is different. It's in a red zone. Demon territory. We attack that, we're starting a war."
"Good thing I'm good at wars," Constantine muttered.
"You're missing the point." Colleen's expression turned serious. "A war affects everyone. Innocent people get caught in the crossfire. The community will fight back to prevent that and they've got resources you can't imagine."
Constantine absorbed that. "So what are you suggesting?"
"We need to be smart. Build a coalition. Get other supernatural powers on our side show them that Mephisto's operations threaten everyone, not just humans." Colleen pulled up more files. "I've been building a case. Evidence of Mephisto's treaty violations, proof he's been encroaching on other territories, documentation of the soul trafficking. If we present this to the council..."
"They'll sanction action against him," Constantine finished. "Official permission to tear down his network."
"Exactly. It turns a vigilante operation into sanctioned law enforcement. Much safer for everyone."
Constantine had to admire the strategy. It was more subtle than his usual approach, but potentially more effective. "When's the next council meeting?"
"Three days. I can get you an invitation if you're willing to speak. Tell them what you saw at Inferno, back up the evidence."
"Public speaking. Wonderful." But Constantine nodded. "Yeah, alright. If it means taking down Mephisto without starting World War Three, I'm in."
Colleen's tablet buzzed. She glanced at it, then stood. "I have to go. Students at the dojo. But we'll talk more tomorrow after you meet Jennifer Kale. She's even better at the political game than I am."
After she left, Constantine cleaned up and settled into the loft's sleeping area. Despite the comfortable accommodations, sleep didn't come easy. His mind churned with everything he'd learned.
A supernatural community with rules and territories. A council that governed interactions. Heroes who worked within the system rather than outside it. This reality was more organized than his own, where occult practitioners mostly operated independently, competing as often as cooperating.
It was almost civilized.
Constantine wasn't sure how he felt about that.
But he knew one thing: if he was going to operate here long-term, he needed to understand these rules. Learn who the players were, what motivated them, how to navigate this strange new landscape.
His mobile buzzed again. A text from an unknown number:
"Welcome to the community, Constantine. Looking forward to meeting you at the council. - M. Knight"
Constantine stared at the message. Moon Knight. Another hero he'd heard about but never met. How many people were watching him?
He typed back:Ā "Likewise. Bring biscuits. I'm particular."
The response came immediately:Ā "No promises. But I'll bring information. Mephisto's made enemies. Time someone used that."
Constantine smiled. Maybe this community thing had advantages after all.
He finally slept, dreaming of battles to come and allies he was still learning to trust.
Tomorrow would bring new challenges. But for tonight, in a safehouse protected by wards and watched over by heroes who actually gave a damn, John Constantine rested easy.
It was a strange feeling.
He could get used to it.
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š If you'd like to support me or read EARLY ACCESS Chapters, you can find me on Patreon š
Ā https://www.patreon.com/Its_Zack/