Aquiver -> J. Constantine

15

"I call them ghouls. They're formed by magic gone wrong. I recognized the one that attacked Zed from an article online. The preacher, he healed his leg." John explained.

Jade stood at the entrance of the abandoned barn. As far away from the angels as possible. Imogen was still in her previous position, wrapped in a blanket with Manny by her side.

She took a deep breath. "Nate was the one first one healed. More will turn, just like him."

Getting healed meant turning into a ghoul. Suddenly that didn't seem like the kind of risk even her brother would take, Jade thought.

"So why did he come after me?" Zed wondered.

Nate didn't hold back from attacking Jade either but he was a lot more firm on removing her than Zed. Though it's possible he saw her as an obstacle and nothing else.

"I don't think he was trying to kill you, love. It looked to me like he was searching for something. When you touched Zachary, you had a vision which means you took on some of his energy."

In all of their time training her visions, the concept of her energy being transfered or her taking in someone else's was never mentioned.

Jade hummed in agreement. "He must've mistaken Zed for Zachary."

Imogen's head turned to look at the other strawberry blonde. Jade shifted uncomfortably under her scrutinizing gaze. It changed back to a neutral face expression within seconds.

"Maybe he wanted Zachary to heal him again." Imogen suggested.

It'd be an endless circle, Jade thought. Healing then turning into a ghoul, then healing him again before he inevitably turns into a ghoul again.

"We need to get the feather back to you. With the magic in its rightful place, it should stop the rest from turning." John said.

The shadow that was Manny shifted and Jade tensed as she observed John listening. Whatever he was saying, it didn't please John. Though it rarely did.

"Yeah, the trouble is preacher Zachary has the feather's power on his side."

The plan was clear. There was no point in confronting the priest head on. Not even Jade's powers and John's magic combined could stand against the power of Imogen's feather.

Knowing that, Zed volunteered to fool Zachary so she could get close to him. What none of them knew was that it would involve a baptism.

A group of believers had gathered around the river in which the baptism will be holding place. Zed was wearing a white coat usually worn by people taking part in religious ceremonies. It'd been given to her by Zachary.

When it was her turn, the priest looked pleased. "You ready to leave your old life behind?"

With her eyes locked onto the feather attached by a chain around his neck, she knew she was ready to do anything to get it from him. Even get baptized.

"I am." she said.

Jade and John hid among the crowd of people. If anything went wrong or they needed to act fast, they were there as backup. Nothing was going to harm Zed if they could help it.

"I baptize you now in front of these witnesses. In the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Ghost."

As he submerged Zed under the river's water, Jade saw her grab onto the feather while pretending to simply be supporting herself. Simple yet effective.

"And everybody said amen." Zachary said.

It took him a moment after pulling Zed back up to realize she was now holding the feather and not him. He touched his chest not believing his eyes.