Lauriver Chronicles

Chapter 106

"Well, this place certainly hasn't improved much." Constantine said as they looked around the house.

"Well it was doing just fine until you walked in you asshole." a man with a country accent said as he walked into the room and both Abby and Constantine were aback by how sickly pale and thin the man was.

"Richie." Abby said.

"Abby, I should've known if anyone could get through those wards it was you. But why are you hanging around with this man? If you're lucky, he'll only get you killed quickly instead of costing you your soul or inflicting a magical incurable cancer that kills you slowly like he did me." Richie said.

"I didn't do shit to you." Constantine said.

"It was your fault and you know it, John. You're the one who should have this disease, not me." Richie said before he started coughing.

"Okay enough. Richie, you need to sit down and rest. Save your strength." Abby said as she moved them into the living room and forced Richie to sit down.

"Always the doctor aren't you." Richie said with a chuckle as Abby fussed over him.

"Just because you're dying doesn't mean we need to speed up the process. Especially when there's still a chance we could find a cure." Abby said.

"Ever the optimist. I've seen you, Zatanna, Doctor Fate, literally every mystic healer in the business and no one can find a cure for what ails me. And believe me, I've searched everywhere." Richie said as Abby noticed something in his hand.

"Please tell me that's not what I think it is." Abby said.

"I don't know what you're talking about?" Richie said, trying to hide it, but Abby was too quick for him as she plucked a small red gem from his hand.

"John, is this what I think it is?" Abby asked, since he was the expert on magical items.

"It looks like a piece of the dreamstone to me. Luckily it's separate from the rest of it or we'd be in trouble." Constantine said.

"It's the only thing keeping my cancer at bay." Richie said.

"No, I'm sorry Richie, but something like this is too dangerous to leave out in the world. I'm gonna stash it in the House of Mystery. Trust me, you're gonna thank me someday." Constantine said.

"Yeah right. I bet you just cut my life even shorter than it already was, so why don't you just get out of here." Richie said.

"Sorry Richie, but we can't leave until we get something you have." Abby said apologetically.

"Haven't you taken enough from me already?" Richie asked angrily.

"Richie, the sooner we get what we need, the sooner we'll be out of your life." Abby said.

"Fine. What is it?" Richie asked.

"John said that you're in possession of an Enochian spell. One that can locate the bones of any demon anywhere in the world." Abby said.

"That's what you want? A bone detector?" Richie asked.

"Richie, I know it's a big ask, but this is important." John said.

"Hell no. The only person who can perform a spell like that is someone who's soul isn't bound for Hell and Abby is the only one who qualifies, not to mention the fact that performing it could end up costing her her soul." Richie said.

"I'm aware of the risks of using enochian magic. The cost of using angel magic is a piece of my soul." Abby said.

"And you shouldn't have to make that sacrifice for him, since we both know that you're doing this to help him summon some demon." Richie said.

"We're not leaving without that spell." John said.

"Yes you are." Richie said.

"No, we're not. I appreciate the protectiveness Richie, but I know what I'm doing." Abby said and suddenly, a scroll flew off one of the shelves and into her hand.

"How did you do that?" John asked as he and Richie looked at her in shock.

"I have no idea." Abby said as she opened the scroll and John looked at it too.

"Well, this is going to take awhile, since the spell is in Enochian, which means we need a translator." Constantine said.

"What are you talking about? I can read this perfectly." Abby said, since it was clear as day to her.

"Really. You can read the language of the angels?" Constantine asked.

"Yeah and I can tell you right now that this is going to be harder than we thought, since it'll require more than just the two of us to pull off." Abby said as she looked over the spell while Richie looked at Abby suspiciously, though deciding to keep his mouth shut until he knew for sure.

"Great. I guess we better start getting the gang back together. Along with some new faces." John said, since there was no way Richie was going to help them.

"You have what you wanted, now get lost." Richie said, though he decided he'd need to keep a closer eye on Abby, since if he was right, she might be the cure he was looking for.

"You heard the man Abby, let's not overstay our welcome anymore than we already have." John said and Abby nodded.

"Richie, when this is over, I promise I will find a way to help you." Constantine said.

"Sure you will. It's not like you're the one who got me into this mess in the first place. Now get outta here." Richie said as John and Abby left.