JLD: The Hellblazers

## **Synopsis**

While investigating the death of a powerful sorcerer, John Constantine joins forces with other magical heroes to face off against an ancient dark and mystical power.

## **Story**

### **Part 1: A Warning From a Stranger**

**Graveyard; Coast City: 20/02/2013 23:48**

A figure dressed in a brown trench coat wanders from the trees and emerges into the midnight air. After lightning a cigarette, he walks back and forth amidst a cluster of graves. He retrieves a note from his pocket and reads its vibrant yellow words “Meet me” before they fade away. As the wind gusts and howls, the note slips from his grasp and falls at the feet of a different individual who wears a cloak. This second man has bright white eyes peering out from under his hat, he is known as The Phantom Stranger.

“John Constantine,” The Phantom Stranger called out, “what you are about to uncover will change your life forever.”

Constantine took a drag from his cigarette and replied, “I’m not one for fate, Stranger."

The Phantom Stranger glided over to Constantine and asked, “You’re here to see you old mentor, Sargon the Sorcerer?"

“Yeah,” Constantine said as he sat down on a gravestone.

“It has been some time since you last saw him, yes?” asked The Phantom Stranger.

“Fifteen years, we had a falling out,” Constantine replied.

“Be warned, Sargon has been meddling in powers beyond his and you comprehension,” The Phantom Stranger said.

“I’ve heard the rumours, Stranger,” Constantine retorted. “I'm not here to discuss Sargon’s magic.”

The Phantom Stranger said gravely. “Sargon’s fate has been sealed. There’s nothing you can do to save him.”

Constantine’s eyes widened. “What do you mean? Is he in danger?”

“I can say no more, John Constantine,” The Phantom Stranger said. “But I must warn you, darkness comes in many shapes, many forms, the twisting forces of evil lurk in every shadow and every faint whisper of the night, you must be on your guard for evil will strike from where you least expect it.”

John throws his hands in the air, “What the bloody hell does that mean?!” he exclaimed as The Phantom Stranger vanished into the darkness.

Constantine, with clear signs of agitation, suddenly turns around and launches a stone far into the trees. He then extinguishes his cigarette on a nearby headstone before glancing at his watch and question where Sarong could be. A burst of bright yellow light suddenly radiates from the trees behind him. "Ahh finally, there you are" Constantine moves towards the origin of the light, arriving at a gothic-style house with two storeys, suspended about 15 feet in the air. He casts an orange rune beneath his feet that levitates him up to reach the porch. He steps onto the creaky boards and brushes cobwebs off the door and opens it. The house is noticeably larger inside, with hallways stretching on for what seems like an eternity and doorways leading to an infinite number of rooms. Constantine shuts his eyes, recites a mystical chant, and reaches out to summon the desired room. Opening his eyes, he finds a new door just inches from his face. After opening it, he discovers the body of Sargon the Sorcerer, lying on the floor facedown. “Oh shit,” Constantine mutters under his breath as he walks into the room, bending down to flip Sargon over, only to see his deceased and decomposing face, frozen in a look of terror. "Sargon, no no no!" Leaning the sorcerer up against the wall, Constantine mumbles to himself. As he examines the torn and slashed body of Sargon, he notices a crescent-shaped burn on his flesh. Spotting a shattered gemstone on the ground, he turns to inspect it, watching as the 3 black crystalline shards reflect the light. Sensing a powerful and ominous energy emanating from the fragments, he carefully places them into a small wooden box he conjured, making sure not to touch them. After tucking the box into his coat pocket, he turns his attention back to Sargon, reaching for his head and removing the red gem from the bright yellow turban, which then falls to the sorcerer’s shoulders. “Well mate, looks like you’ve gone and done it now,” Constantine remarks as he stands up and walks out of the room, with the door closing behind him.

### **Part 2: The Form of Man**

**Jason Blood's Apartment; Gotham City: 21/02/2013 00:52**

The crackling of the fireplace echoes throughout the room, casting flickering shadows on the walls. Jason Blood sits comfortably in his armchair, a book resting in his lap. He seems lost in thought, his brow furrowed as he remembers, ages ago, a time he would give anything to forget. The warm glow of the fire illuminates his features, casting his sharp jawline and white streak running through his dark brown hair. Rain patters against the windows, a constant noise in an otherwise quiet room. Lightning strikes illuminate the many magical artefacts and trinkets that adorn the shelves lining the walls. Blood’s attention was interrupted by a ghostly figure, dressed in a red leotard with a popped collar, who appeared halfway through the wall and addressed him, “Hey Jason, someone’s here to see you.” Blood didn’t bother turning to face him and asked, “Who is it, Boston?” The ghost stuttered, “Umm… well… it’s John.” Blood replied quickly, “I will not see him, not after the last time,” closing his book and rising from his chair. Boston phased back through the wall, and Blood frowned as he recalled his last interaction with John Constantine, furrowing his brow and clenching his teeth. He turned and pulled the curtains closed over the window, clicking his fingers, and watching as the candles in the room blazed alight. The door burst open, and Constantine shouted, “I can’t believe you’re still pissed about that! Jeez, I knew you were old, but I didn’t realise you held a grudge for this long.” Boston followed closely behind apologising, “Sorry Jason, he just walked straight through me.” Boston flew inside Constantine possessing his body, he spoke through Constantine, “Do you want me to take him outside?” Blood sat back down in his chair, “No thank you Boston, I would like to hear what John has to say,” Boston exited Constantine’s body, leaving him disorientated. Blood gestured to a chair in front of the fire, sarcastically asking Constantine to sit and tell him what he had to say. “Sargon is dead,” Constantine said, stumbling over to the chair and sitting. Blood and Boston’s faces changed, growing saddened to hear the news. “He had it coming mate, messing with powers beyond his knowledge and control.”

Constantine pulled out the small wooden box from his coat pocket and poured the contents, the 3 small black shards, onto a table. Blood examined them with wonder, then shock as he recognised them. “These shards appear to be what remains of the Heart of Darkness,” Blood said, standing up and walking over to a bookshelf. He pulled down a large leather-bound book and showed an image of the black gemstone, only it was in one piece. “It housed the entity knows as Galid, the embodiment of the Wrath of the Presence.” Constantine scoffed, “The Prescence, mate, I didn’t pick you for a believer.” Blood glared at Constantine the flame flickering in his eyes, “You and I both know that Hell exists John, that can only prove Heaven’s existence.” Constantine smirked at Blood, “Oh yeah, I guess your demon friend probably told you that, mate.” Blood’s eyes seemed to glow at the mention of his ‘demon friend’, “So uh… what does Galid want exactly?” Boston chimed in, trying to change the subject. Blood flipped through his book, “Galid deemed humanity unworthy of existence, it attempted to block out the sun… by creating a permanent solar eclipse.” The 3 men looked between each other. Blood continued to read aloud, “It says that Galid was defeated before he could enact its plan, the entity was imprisoned in the gem by mystics eons ago.” Constantine placed the shards back into the box, “Great, so we know how to defeat the guy, we just need to find him.” Blood kept reading, “Galid needs a host in order to remain on the mortal plane, it says that it can take over and deceased being,” he and Constantine both looked at each other with wide eyes. “Where did you say Sargon’s body was, John?” Constantine replied, “I didn’t… but it may be a bit tricky to track him down now.”

### **Part 3: The Magician's Daughter**

**Kane County; Gotham City: 21/02/2013 03:54**

Constantine, Blood and Boston strolled down the wet street. “John, how did you manage to get into the House before? Can’t we just do that again?” Boston asked, puzzled. “The House chooses who it wants to let in, Boston. It has a will of its own,” replied Constantine. “That’s precisely why we need to locate the House’s next appearances,” added Blood. The trio walked through the rain as it continued to pour. “Gotham is quite a miserable place, isn’t it? Remarked Constantine, glancing at Blood and then at Boston. “It’s not all bad, really,” replied Boston. “I s’pose for a Deadman, the city’s high crime rates and vigilantes may not hold much significance,” jested Constantine.

“Ah, we have arrived,” Blood announced as they approached the grand entrance of Shadowcrest Manor. He proceeded to push open the massive iron gates and continued, “This is the ancestral home of the Zatara’s, a family known for their formidable magical heritage,” He explained. “And you reckon this Zatara bloke can help us find the House?” inquired Constantine. “Yes, John. Zatara is a highly skilled sorcerer with exceptional prowess in the mystic arts, and so is his daughter,” Blood explained. The mention of Zatara’s daughter piqued the curiosity of both Constantine and Boston. Constantine conjured a rune which dried him and Blood off before they knocked on the ornate wooden door. Blood cautioned Constantine and Boston to let him do the talking, as he had not seen Giovanni in years but hoped he would remember him. The doors opened to reveal Zatanna Zatara, a woman wearing a long black and purple dress with military style boots, “Hello, can I help you two?” she asked. “Hello Zatanna, you probably don’t remember me, my name is Jason Blood, I’m a friend of your father’s,” Blood explained. “Ok, I’ll go get him, you can wait here if you want,” she showed them into the main hall of the manor. The hall was adorned with portraits and a large purple tapestry emblazoned with a silver “SC”. Zatanna went upstairs to inform her father of their arrival. Boston frustratedly cried, “you *two*? Oh shit she can’t see me, can she?” but both Constantine and Blood whispered for him to be quiet.

Zatanna hurried up the staircase and rapped twice on her father’s bedroom door, “Dad, are you up?” She paused to hear his response. “Yes, Zatanna, what is it?” She took hold of the doorknob but didn’t turn it. “There are some visitors here to see you.” There was a pause. “Who are they?” he asked. Zatanna paused herself, “May I come in, dad?” she requested. “Yes, Zatanna, please come in,” her father replied. She pushed the door open and entered. Giovanni Zatara, the great sorcerer, was lying in his bed, visibly weak and frail. “Who is here, Zatanna?” he asked again. “A man named Jason Blood, and another man I don’t recognise,” she answered.