Epilogue: Annulment

"...and the reason why Mrs. Blaze seeks for the marriage to be annulled?" The judge said, peering at the court from behind her spectacles.

"The marriage was entered into under duress, your honor," Lois's lawyer August Freeman said. "Angelica Blaze required the marriage as a precondition to the release of the souls of four women. My client only entered into the state of matrimony to secure their release."

"Counsel, this is Metropolis in the 21st century. I do not hold with superstitious belief in magic, demons, or sorcery," the judge said witheringly.

"With due respect, your honor, your belief is not the issue at stake here. My client possessed a valid belief in the threat that Angelica Blaze posed to the four women in question. In Faust vs. Gotham, it was ruled that..."

Lois L. Blaze sighed. Like a good client, she shut up and let her overpriced attorney do her job. Not that it was even Lois's money at play here; her assets were still frozen as the courts sorted out the mess of legal paperwork she had signed to give Blaze all of her property. Clark Kent, fortunately, had stepped in and offered to foot the bill...but it was still a long, drawn-out process given that Blaze was fighting it.

"...and are they still cohabitating?" the judge asked.

"No, your honor," Freedman said. "They separated the day after the ceremony, and have been living separately ever since."

The judge leaned forward. "And where is Mrs. Blaze living now?"

The tall black lawyer glanced down at Lois.

"I'm staying at the apartment of my friend, Clark Kent. We're co-workers at the Daily Planet."

"What Mrs. Blaze fails to add," the demon's lawyer added. "Is that Mr. Kent is also funding this farce. He is taking advantage of a mentally deluded woman and fostering these ridiculous claims of duress in order to break up this marriage. Lois L. Blaze needs to be returned to the care and custody of her spouse."

"Hmm-hmm," the judge hummed. She turned to Lois. "Is Mr. Kent the individual who is funding these proceedings?"

"Clark is loaning me the money. Until I can recover my assets and pay him back."

"Yes, your assets," the judge moved several pieces of paper around on her desk. "I see that prior to the marriage itself, you signed statements granting Angelica Blaze broad powers to act in your interests. Quite frankly, these are the type of documents I normally only see in cases of an individual who is mentally unfit to handle their own finances or make personal health decisions."

"She made me sign those!" Lois protested. "If I didn't, she—"

"Yes, yes," the judge waved her hand. She stared hard into Lois Lane's eyes. "Was the marriage consummated?"

Lois blushed. "We...we had anal sex. Not vaginal sex."

"If I may remind the court," Freedman broke in, "Metropolis municipal statutes do not consider anything except vaginal penetration to qualify as 'sex' for terms of consummation."

The judge frowned. "Chapter and verse, Mr. Freedman."

He gave it. Lois vaguely remembered that issue—a bunch of conservative bigots had managed to get the law passed as a way to covertly outlaw gay marriage in the city. She'd never heard about the law being enforced, however...

"Objection your honor! That law is unconstitutional!" The opposing counsel said.

"That law, has never yet been successfully utilized, much less challenged," the judge tapped away at her computer. She turned to Blaze's table. "On what grounds is the annulment challenged?"

"I want my wife back," Angelica's voice was a broken whisper that carried to every corner of the courtroom.

The judge tapped at her desk. "Mrs. Blaze. Even if this cult were to deny this annulment—it cannot repair your fractured marriage."

She looked from Lois to Blaze and back again. "Frankly, I feel this whole situation is ridiculous; it is clear to me that Lois L. Blaze has abandoned this marriage, despite having a loving spouse who was willing to support her emotionally and to take care of her during a period of legal incompetence. Unless proof of these absurd claims can be given, I cannot—"

In the back of the courtroom, a match was struck, in clear defiance of the no-smoking signs throughout the building. A glowing red pentacle appeared on the floor beneath Blaze...and her human guise burned off in a pall of toxic smoke as green flames leaped up momentarily to cover her.

Blood-red skin and dark horns, a hard cock with dangling balls, black mane wild. The naked demon threw herself against the cage, red sparks arcing out as they scraped against the invisible wall that rose from the edges of the magic circle, unable to penetrate it. The crimson cock pressed against the wall, leaking black sludge onto the floor.

"I'm going to fuck you Lois!" Blaze howled. "No matter how long it takes! I'm going to dump my seed in your womb, you beautiful cunt, and drag your sorry soul down to hell to wear as a condom for all eternity!"

The judge slammed her gravel on her desk.

"...as I was saying, the court hereby annuls the marriage of Lois Lane Blaze and Angelica Blaze. Court adjourned, sergeant please call the Bishop now."

At the back of the courtroom, John Constantine rang a small silver belly...and the floor of the pentagram fell away into an endless void of space. Blaze was sucked downward, her claws holding on to the edges for half a heartbeat...and then they too were gone, and the floor faded back into normality.

Lois Lane fell back into Clark's arms. The reporter's held each other, and Kent and Freedman shook hands, two big men sharing a secret smile. John Constantine slipped out the back in of the court.

"Hey, you can't smoke here," a female guard said.

The blond magician smiled and put out his cigarette. "Of course. Say, love, when do you get off?" She seemed taken aback, and he leaned in. "How about right now? Been a while hasn't it? Nobody in the breakroom at this hour? Who would know?"

The guard bit her lip, and then grabbed his arm and pulled him toward the break room. He'd just done one good deed...it was time to celebrate.

Lois and Clark were arm and arm as they left the courthouse.

"Smallville...I really can't say how much this means to me. Everything you've done. It's just...super," Lois grabbed his wrist. "And I...I've been hesitating about this, but there's one more thing I need from you. Really need."

"Of course, Lois," he said, patting her hand. "Anything."

She reached up onto her tiptoes to whisper it in his ear.

"Please fuck my ass. It's been weeks and I just...I can't go without it any longer!"