Lauriver Chronicles

Chapter 110

After they recovered Nergal's bones courtesy of the successful completion of the spell by Abby, who was still basking in her new angelic grace.

"Okay, we got our bargaining chip. Now it's time to get Astra out of hell. She's been stuck there for too long already." John said.

"You sure you want to do this? Last time you summoned Nergal, it didn't end well." Chas asked.

"Last time, I was arrogant and underestimated Nergal's craftiness. Not this time. Plus, this time we have a secret weapon we didn't have last time." John said, referring to Abby, who hadn't figured out how to put her wings away yet.

"Me?" Abby asked.

"Now that you've unlocked your angel half, no demon is going to want to mess with you, since there's a reason there hasn't been another brush up between heaven and hell since Lucifer was banished. Most demons stick to killing and making deals with humans and not drawing attention to themselves, since they know that Angels are more powerful than them. No offense Maze." John said.

"None taken, you're right. The only angel I like is Lucifer because he's not like the rest of them, since he's the Devil. But anyways, let's get this over with, I want to crack someone's head." Maze said.

"And this is why the Devil brought you with him when he came back to Earth." John said and Maze nodded, since back in hell, she'd just been another dime a dozen demon, but then she'd heard a rumor that Lucifer was planning to leave hell to go to Earth just for fun, she'd tracked him down and convinced him to bring her with him, since he was impressed by her skills and thought she should have some fun with him too, which allowed Maze to go from being your average demon to the Devil's best friend and if they ever go back to hell, not that she wanted too, since Earth was much more fun, she'd likely be his second-in-command.

"Did you know my mom?" Abby asked.

"No, sorry, by the time I met Lucifer, she wasn't really talking to him anymore and he doesn't talk about any of his siblings besides Amenadiel, since he misses his big brother. I think he's hoping to find that amulet containing what's left of his powers while he's on Earth, since it's shielded from all angels and demons to keep them from finding it." Maze said and both Abby and John had to stop themselves from saying that they knew exactly where the amulet was.

"Let's get on with this. Astra has waited long enough to be freed." Constantine said.

"Just one second." Kase said as she summoned some protective charms from her bike.

"Extra precautions to make sure Nergal doesn't try to make a break for it by body jacking one of us." Kase explained as they moved into position and John began chanting the spell, conjuring up a fiery pentagram.

"I summon you Nergal here into this circle." John finished as there was a pillar of fire and suddenly Nergal was standing there.

"Well, well. John Constantine and company. I guess you decided you couldn't wait to come to hell to see me again." Nergal said.

And I see you're just as ugly as I remember." Constantine said.

"What do you want?" Nergal asked.

"I'm here to barter for the return of Astra Logue, since you never should've taken her in the first place." Constantine said.

"You've tried this before John. What makes you think that this will go any differently?" Nergal asked.

"Because this time I have the right leverage." Constantine said with a grin.

"What are you talking about?" Nergal asked as Chas tossed the sack of bones out for Nergal to see.

"Bones?" Nergal asked, wondering what was so special about that.

"Not just any bones. They're your bones wanker. Your human bones. Which means that all we need to do to get rid of you is set these on fire, since we have confirmation that the legend of burning bones is true." Constantine said.

"How could you know that?" Nergal asked.

"Because I told them." Maze said as she stepped into view.

"Mazikeen, you bitch. You sold me out to humans. Living like one of them has made you soft." Nergal said.

"Hardly. But I never liked you and humans are far more entertaining when they're alive as opposed to when they come down to hell. It's literal reality tv that I get to help manipulate. Now pipe down unless you want the girl with the wings to get involved." Maze said, referring to Abby.

"There's no way angels would help you." Nergal said, since the angels hated Constantine even more than the demons did.

"I'm a nephilim asshole. Now return Astra to earth or we torch your bones. Your call." Abby said.

"Deal expires in 10 seconds. Then we toss your bones on the grill and you go to the empty where you sleep forever." Constantine said smugly as he watched Nergal squirm.

"You might have a nephilim, but she's clearly inexperienced with her powers, since I can tell she just awakened and she's weak from whatever spell she used to unleash her power." Nergal bluffed trying to buy time.

"Maybe, but I'm sure my mother Aurora would be interested in you roasting her daughter." Abby said, enjoying the effect her words had on the demon.

"Aurora. Now that's a name I wasn't expecting to hear. I don't need her attention. Fine, you win. I'll release Astra from hell and even return your soul to you John Constantine. After all, it's only a matter of time until another demon gets a hold of it. You can't seem to stop yourself from making those kinds of choices." Nergal said.

"Good thing he has other people to keep him from doing that again. Now, honor the deal or I'll light your bones up myself." Abby said as she managed to light her hands up with what Nergal realized as angel fire.

"Fine. Give me the bones first." Nergal said.

"Not a chance. You think we're gonna hand over our leverage before you keep your end of the deal?" Chas asked him.

"Fine." Nergal said, knowing they had him and with a snap of his fingers, first a token with John's name appeared on Constantine's hand and then a young girl appeared out of nowhere.

"John." the girl said.

"Astra." John said as she rushed up to him, but Abby intercepted so that John could keep the sigil intact.

"It's okay Astra. You're home and you're safe. I promise you're never going back there again." Abby said as she rubbed the now sobbing girl's back to comfort her as Astra clung to her for dear life.

"Okay, here are your bones, now bugger off and don't come back." Constantine said as he gestured to Chas to toss Nergal his bones before the demon vanished.

"Well Johnny, we finally did it, we saved Astra." Chas said to his old friend.

"Yes we did Chas. I finally got her out of that mess. And I'm not going to abandon her now when she needs me." John said.

"You're going to raise a kid? Not without my supervision. Besides, I think I have my own journey to go on now. Starting with finding my mother." Abby said.