A Taste of Things to Come

## Constantine Presents: *A Taste of Things to Come*

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## **Synopsis**

After being forced to move to Roseland, **Chas Constantine** was enrolled at Neil Gaiman High School but was forced to guarantee that he wouldn’t use magic. While at a party, Chas became enchanted with a young woman in his class named Cassandra Motiff, who was deeply interested in the things that go bump at night. She was in love with horror movies and collected books that detailed the hellish nature of creatures. However, that’s all it was. Books and movies. She didn’t know, or rather, didn’t wish to know the untold life stories.

The two grew into something more by the night's end, as children with solid feelings do. Cassandra was known to pop by the house; she was very outgoing and often talked more than she should, but it was all in good jest. Bright-minded and beautiful, she was the exact opposite of Chas, but he let her stroll into his life for some reason. She told him outlandish stories about what she wanted to do with her life, but the only through-line was her wish to use the occult. She wanted to know how it all worked. Why things operated as they did so, why the secrets of what went bump in the night were secrets, their relationship evolved into that of dating. They were young and in love, but he was lying to her. He never told her his extensive knowledge of the occult or that he was deputized to use magic due to his parents. Arguably, his inability to let her in, or instead, his incapability, killed her.

Cassandra invited Chas over one day to “study.” It consisted of her using an Ouija board to converse with spirits she had foolheartedly believed were in the house. She was right, but it wasn’t the spirits she was looking for. A murderous demon had made its way into her home and life. It messed with her; it liked when its victims were on the edge of their seats. It claimed they tasted better when they were scared. The demon's name was Azazel, a fiend beyond its time. He pounced at this opportunity; he would be a fool not to. As Chas and Cassandra sat down and argued over using an Ouija board, Azazel moved the tile, which caused Cassandra to show Chas that she was right. That there was a spirit, and then the lights flickered. Chas immediately called his mother as he pulled Cassandra towards him, but it was too late. She convulsed, shaking violently as Azazel possessed her. Chas watched in horror as he dropped his phone, screaming as Cassandra lunged at him, aiming to kill him first.

In his desperation to survive, Chas used his magic and repelled Azazel, which grew his interest in Chas. Chas began to exorcise the demon without speaking, but Azazel shouted that Cassandra would go with him if he sent him to Hell. At last, Henry and Zazie kicked in the front door and told Chas to finish it. He was torn. He could let this demon roam, be free amongst society and humanity, grazing as he feels. Or, he could cast down his first love and lament that he would never see her again. However, Azazel chose for Chas. He lunged at Henry, told him it was time to fulfill his end of the deal and beheaded him. Azazel then turned to Zazie and tore her heart out.

Chas made his choice with his hand forced, but this rationalization didn’t make him feel better. Bright-minded and beautiful, Chas watched as Cassandra and Azazel were dragged to Hell by forces outside of their control. Once it was over, Chas collapsed into tears as he held the body dies of his dead parents and learned that magic comes at a cost, even if Chas was immune to the physical.

## **Notes**

* Azazel (Debut)
* Chas Constantine (Debut)
* Henry Constantine (Debut)
* Zazie Adams (Debut)
* Cassandra Motiff (First Appearance)