Constantine - The Novelization - Whoa is (Not)

Thing was, this guy Constantine was more qualified than LAPD to deal with this. This wasthe exception of all exceptions. ''Yee - I decided to chill a bit here. Don't call this in, either. Let'swait."But privately, he thought: Someday, by God, I'm going to get Constantine alone somewhere, ina bar or a back alley, and I'm gonna get the goddamn truth out of him. With a bottle of Jim Beamor a nightstick. Somehow I'm gonna make that son of a bitch sing.--Time was stopped for Gabriel and Angela. Satan had frozen it. The Spear of Destiny waspoised over her chest - a split second from tearing into her. A frozen tableau.Then Satan walked into the room.He walked around the static Gabriel, slid his horny hand under Angela's head, ran his fingerstenderly over her mouth...Nice.Then he swept her up in his arms, away from Gabriel, nodding to Time to let it know...…that it was Time to start again.Sound and motion returned to the room as Time began to flow in the room once more.Gabriel's spear hammered down into the tile - where Angela had been a moment before.Gabriel gazed up at Satan in wonder. Stunned. "Lucifer!"Satan chuckled grimly. He held Angela tight to him.Gabriel looked down at the water under Angela.He saw Mammon's image reflected there instead of Angela's."This world," Satan said, "is mine. In time. You best of all should understand ambition...""Son of perdition," Gabriel said. "Little horn... most unclean."Satan chuckled. "I do miss the old names."Gabriel took a step toward Satan. "I smite thee in His honor!"Gabriel swung a fist, and Satan simply caught his hand. Like a linebacker gently stopping thefist of a five-year-old boy.Gabriel was confused. He looked skyward, to Heaven. "...Father?"Satan smiled wolfishly. "Looks like Someone doesn't have your back anymore."A new expression flashed in the angel's face. A stranger to him: Fear.Then water exploded upward from the pool, engulfing them - Gabriel's wings bursting intoparadoxical flame at the contact. Mammon shrieked from within Angela...."No!" Gabriel screamed.Satan vanished, carrying something dark and wriggling in his arms. Taking Mammon withhim. Where Satan had been, Angela lay moaning on the tile.Satan went back to Hell. A very short trip. Just to drop something off, you understand. Thebuilding quaked at his going... and his return.--Constantine felt the building shake, rocking to its foundation. And though time was suddenlyflowing normally again - and that meant so was the blood from his arms - he smiled. He figuredthe jolt meant Satan had kicked some ass.He looked up as Satan reappeared in front of him. A glare of impatient expectancy from theFirst of the Fallen.Constantine gave him the look that said: You owe me.Satan knew it was true. He was at a metaphysical disadvantage if he let Constantine restorebalance in his kingdom for him. He had to take authority back by paying off the debt. It was justanother law of spiritual physics."So... what do you want?" Satan demanded, his voice taut with impatience. "An extension?"The weakness of blood loss was making Constantine feel like his face was made of soft lead;