Constantine - The Novelization - Whoa is (Not)

The darkness seemed to thicken around Beeman's desk. To move there....Buzzing. Black buzzing."Do you see that?" Angela asked. Her voice taut. Constantine pressed forward - and the fliesswarmed up at him, as if warning him back, like bees disturbed at their hive. Angela kept up withhim, covering her mouth, wanting to scream but only whimpering.The swarm of flies had a locus, a thicker center. A solid mound of moving flies on the floor."Oh Jesus," Constantine muttered. "No..."He took off his coat, flung it at the mound, and the swarming flies scattered, becoming a cloudover Beeman's body - or what was left of it. Mostly eaten away. Flies poured out of Beeman'smouth and ears."Oh God," Angela choked.'Who?" Constantine demanded - of no one in particular. Who had done this to his friend?The flies began to vanish into the shadows - were almost gone. He had to stop it fromescaping....He pulled his shirtsleeves back, revealing two distinctive tattoos on his forearms that he usedfor conjuring; when he put them together they made one symmetrically complete image. Heslammed the tattoos together and - drawing astral light to project the magic into the air nearBeeman's body, visualizing the symbols - incanted, "Into the light I command thee!" He washaving trouble breathing, the sickness in his lungs threatening to betray him at this criticalmoment. He might still be able to help Beeman, at least in the next world... if he could reveal thedemon who'd destroyed him. "Into the light I command thee!”Don't cough. Not now. Focus. The moment will be gone and it'll be too late. Don't cough!"Into the light I command thee!"The air around his outstretched arms seemed to warp as the summoning took hold. Angelastepped back, afraid. The flies buzzed overhead...."Into the light I command thee! Into the light I-" And then the coughing fit came on. Hecouldn't breathe at all. His head swam with weariness, lack of oxygen - and despair, as blooderupted from his lungs into his mouth. He spat... and fell to his knees.Angela knelt beside him, instinctively putting an arm around his shoulders. The flies weregone. There was only Beeman's stripped body. And little spots of Constantine's blood on thefloor.The coughing fit stopped. But it was too late. "This is my fault," Constantine said hoarsely."A damned one-man plague.""John... you need a doctor."Constantine made a sound of disgust, deep in his throat, and shook his head. ''I've seen adoctor."He stood up - and the room seemed to spin. He was still having trouble getting his breath. Hewas afraid he was going to fall on his face. Put out his hands to try to keep his balance. Swaying.Angela stood and tried to help him."Stay away," he told her. Hoping she'd understand.He wanted to send her somewhere safe - away from him. First Hennessy, then Beeman.Maybe she'd be next. "Please..."He looked at Beeman's desk - wasn't surprised to see that the scrolls were ashes now.Angela sighed. She drew out her portable squawk box. "Ten-twelve to base. Officer needsassistance. We've got a..."She looked at Beeman's body. How did she classify this one? Which number was it in themanual?"...uh, officer needs assistance."Constantine's apartment. He sat on his window seat, looking out at the street. Watching thepolice vehicles drive away from the bowling alley."It wasn't just Isabel," Angela said from the doorway. "I used to see things too, John."