Zatanna walked over to Constantine, crouched down, and looked into his eyes. "I know you're not as evil and heartless as you pretend to be. That's why your soul is drowning in grief."
As she spoke, she gently reached out and brushed her fingertips across Constantine's brow. Then she said, "But you need rest now. No more demons will haunt your dreams. Sleep, John..."
At her soft murmur, Constantine slowly closed his eyes, his breathing gradually evening out. Zatanna sighed and said quietly, "All right. Now I have to finish everything myself."
"Ultimate Evil Curse, Gotham's chaos, Hell and Heaven..." Zatanna muttered as she rose, turned around, and prepared to leave.
But the instant she turned her back, Constantine sprang up, seized her by the throat from behind, and slammed her to the ground.
Zatanna struggled desperately. "Constantine!! You lunatic!! Let me go!!!"
As she fought, she saw the look in Constantine's eyes. The madness there told Zatanna that she had been wrong.
She had always believed Constantine had become so evil and insane because of magic. That the curses the demons had placed upon him had muddled his thoughts, and that endless nightmares had driven him mad.
But the fire blazing in his eyes now told Zatanna that magic had never been the dye coloring his madness. It was not even the kindling that had set it ablaze. He had been a madman before he had ever been a mage.
The lack of oxygen slowly robbed Zatanna of consciousness. Once she stopped resisting, Constantine rose, gasping for breath. Though he now possessed a young, powerful body and all that pain had left him behind, he still felt terribly weak, as if his soul were missing a piece forever.
He reached out and found Zatanna's utility belt. After opening it,