Beyond the world, the House of Mystery lay in a gap in the void.
The moment he landed, the lingering stench of smoke and liquor filled his nose.
Constantine was leaning against a worn, mottled sofa, toying with the old lock of the Omnidimensional Magic Defense Network he had recently acquired.
As soon as Shane appeared, he sat up straight and flashed his trademark fake smile.
"Say, newly appointed god."
Constantine spoke with careless swagger, his tone full of bargaining intent.
"Let's make an even trade."
"I have a pretty good idea of what the gods of Olympus are plotting. I'll tell you what I know, and you give me back ownership of the House of Mystery. How about it?"
Shane did not spare Constantine's little scheme so much as a glance.
"No deal."
Constantine's expression froze.
"Do you have any idea how important this secret is?" Shane walked slowly forward and looked down at him, a smile identical to Constantine's beginning to spread across his face.
"Tell me if you want. If you don't, that's fine too."
"Besides, the House of Mystery belongs to me now, and I happen to know you're rather attached to it."
"Say, once this business with Neron is over, what if I throw the house away, or feed it straight to Trigon..."
Rachel reached out a finger and poked Shane in the back.
Shane silently assured her that he was joking.
"Are you out of your mind?!"
Constantine instantly bristled.
"That's against the rules! This is my base, the foundation of my standing in the magical world! You wouldn't dare!"
The foundation of his standing?
More like the foundation of his survival.
Shane watched the bristling Constantine with a cheerful expression. This contract had been signed on the gods' home turf in the Olympian