"Never can true reconcilement grow where wounds of deadly hate have pierced so deep . . ."

-John Milton, Paradise Lost

Prologue

Pulling up outside The Green Lady Bar in his corvette, Lucifer whispered some instructions to the companion seated next to him. It was two minutes past closing time and the devil was confident he would find the lovely, dark-haired queen of demons alone and cleaning up the place. He should have known better. Lilith never had trouble finding someone to fill her empty nights any more than he did. Perhaps this error in judgement was because the Lord of Hell seldom thought beyond what was happening in his own life or because he had a bad habit taking Lilith's affection for him for granted. Glancing through the window, Lucifer could hear the faint strains of the stereo behind the bar playing. Lilith, herself, was leaning against the counter dressed in her favorite hip hugger jeans and a short skin tight black button-down shirt. She had the snaps unfastened almost, but not quite, to her navel, which was good since the fabric stopped there. She was leaning over talking to a man with a fine chiseled jaw line, deep chocolate skin and a very well-muscled body. She held a glass of bourbon in one hand, while the fingers of her other hand traced the line of his jaw. She stared at this statuesque man with her hungry green eyes and imagined all that she was going to do to him. The pair were engaged in an obviously intimate conversation, but the fallen angel paid little attention to her preoccupations, he had his own agenda and right now there was nothing more important to him.

"Aḻakāṉa!" He said as he came through the door, a smile beaming across his face. Lilith's eyes grew wide and instantly she looked over to see the devil walking towards her. It had only been two weeks since she last saw him and she was rather surprised. Considering his mood when he left, she really expected him to disappear for considerably longer.

"Hell must certainly be empty, for all the devils are here." She responded as he came towards her and her incredible specimen of a masculinity.

"Shouldn't you be off somewhere brooding over your wrongs? I'm sure Lux is in desperate need of its owner right now."

"But I have news" He responded, ignoring her less than subtle hint and taking her glass from her and quickly swallowing its contents.

"And I am thrilled for you, 'old scratch', but seeing how my closed sign is up, perhaps it would be best if you came back another time. I'm certain that the news will be just as exciting when the bar reopens at 3 p.m." She cued, hoping that the Lord of Hell would leave her to her night's distraction.

"Yes, but as my oldest friend, consummate lover, head of my harem. . ." The sculpted God that Lilith had been flirting could see the devil's writing on the wall and even if that had not been so obvious, the mood had certainly been killed by his presence. Quietly he got up and without a word left The Green Lady, much to the demoness' chagrin. ". . . I thought you should hear the good news first."

"I was going to make that man scream out all seventeen of my names in ecstasy." She sighed as she looked longingly at the door.

"Well now, we have the opportunity to 'chew the fat' as they say." Lucifer smiled brightly.

"Not what I wanted to have nibbled on tonight!" She snarled at the devil then went behind the bar.

Looking for an excuse to go into the back and cool off, Lilith reached for the glass in Lucifer's hand so she could wash it. She grabbed it just as he was beginning to refill it with bourbon from the bottle that she and her Adonis had been drinking from. Unintentionally her fingers brushed against his and felt something new. She glanced at her old friend's left hand and noticed a tungsten band wrapped around his second to last finger. She didn't say anything just stared at it a moment stunned. How could this have happened? Had the Prince of Darkness actually gotten married? It wasn't possible. The devil doesn't make vows before alters. Chloe . . . Chloe Morningstar, she thought to herself. Who else could the bride be? The sound of the bottle being set back on the wooden bar suddenly snapped her from her shock and not wanting him to see that she had noticed his new accessory she quickly got out a wet rag and began to wash the counter. There was no emotion in her face, but her finger nails began to curl and lengthen into claws.

"So, are you going to tell me your news, or drink all my bourbon?"

"Oh, right, my news." He took a breath and started to open his mouth when the door suddenly opened interrupting his train of thought.

"Lucifer!" called out a cheerful feminine voice. Lilith looked up to see a woman that astounded her every bit as much as the ring had. Walking towards them was the embodiment of bubble-headed blond. This human possessed a hot curvy figure that was wrapped in an expensive tanning bed tan and a Pepto Bismol pink crisscross wrap long sleeve club dress. She was certainly pretty, but the heavy layer of make-up did her no favors and neither did the bottle blond curling iron curls with pink tips. "I missed you." She cooed as she wrapped herself around his arm.

"I was only gone a minute darling." He responded as she cuddled up to him. He glanced up at Lilith's face with uncertainty.

"It seemed longer and it's totally dark outside." She whined like a small child.

"Lili Eden may I introduce my wife, Candy Morningstar." Lucifer smiled as the blond fluff squealed and flashed her large diamond wedding ring at the mother of the Lilim. This was hardly what the demoness had been imagining when she first saw that tungsten ring. If there was someone she thought could drag the devil to the alter it was Chloe not this . . . this . . . Barbie doll knock off. Try as hard as she could Lilith could no longer contain herself and burst out laughing. The devil and his bride stared at her in confusion. "What is so funny?"

"Have you introduced her to the other three mistresses waiting for you in Hell?" the dark haired beauty asked as she managed to get her laughter under control. "Perhaps I should summon them so we can have one big meet and greet."

"Are you angry with me?" He asked, thinking of how Naamah, Eisheth Zenunim and Agrat bat Mahlat would react to his new bride. There would be nothing left of the human woman.

"If I harbor any anger towards you, 'old scratch' it's because you're insulting my intelligence." She stepped out from behind the bar and strode right up to Candy. For a moment nothing was said as she stared deeply into his bride's dark eyes. Uncertain of what the demoness was doing, the devil immediately put himself between the women. "Well, well, my dear, take a bow." Lili smiled up at her longtime lover. "She's a fake. This entire thing is an act. She's actually quite smart. Did you forget that I can read human minds? I could read yours too if I wanted. Now, I want to know exactly what this is about, Lucifer." Stubbornly, the devil refused answer. "Either you tell me, or I start telling her every dirty little secret you ever had as well as showing her a few truths you probably forgot to mention."

Seeing that the ruse was wearing thin and the time for a serious talk was at hand, Lucifer walked Candy over the door that led up to the loft apartment. He reassured her then sent her up to wait comfortably while he talked with Lilith. Once the lovely Candy had left, Lilith poured two glasses of bourbon then handed one to Lucifer before quickly swallowing her own. Wanting to be comfortable during his explanation, she seated herself on the bar counter and crossed her lithe legs. The intensity of her emerald gaze made him feel as though he were under a microscope. He wasn't terribly surprised that she could see through the bubble headed persona of Candy, in fact he had expected it. If anyone could then he knew it would be Lilith because no one knew him better.

"Are you supposed to sit on that?" He asked, diverting to idle chit chat and avoiding the elephant in the room.

"Well, Christian used to get on to me for doing so, but I believe I own The Green Lady now. I'll sit where I please." Lili raised an eyebrow at her old friend. "Are you going to tell me what this is really about?"

"It's about health codes and seating your bum on the bar." He went over and picked up the bourbon bottle sitting next to Lili and began to pour another drink.

"No, no, no, what is going on with you and this "Candy Morningstar"."

"I told you, Aḻakāṉa."

"In that case, things have truly changed in two weeks. Last time I saw you, you were devastated over the near loss of your precious detective as well as angry over the way both of you were ill-used by your parents. In fact, your wrath was so hot that you wanted to be sure that I and my Lilim were still at the ready even through you hadn't formulated any plans for punishment. Fourteen days later you return with that on your arm and a desire to lie." At the word 'lie' he shot her a cold look from his dark eyes. "Not like you at all." She took the glass from his lips just before he could claim his drink and took a swallow.

"I have never lied to you." He responded, a bit insulted. "Candy and I have been married for the past four days."

"Oh I believe you signed a piece of paper, stood before Elvis and a cheap Vegas alter and recited words. I also believe that this is a part of something bigger, especially after seeing your wife's look and performance. You can't fool me 'old scratch' your marriage is a lie."

"Now we're getting into semantics." He argued as he took back his glass and finished the drink. "As far as it being part of something bigger . . . well, so what if it is?"

"Then just tell me what you're planning and stop with the childish games."

Setting his glass down on the bar began to tell her his plot. Bringing Candy here had simply been a dry run to see how well she could fool someone who knew him. It had gone the way he figured. Lili knew him better than anyone, especially when it came to women. Hot bodies were a lot of fun, but the ones who made it into his close knit inner circle also possessed great intelligence. All of his four mistresses were beautiful, sexual, dangerous and clever. Lilith being the superior one in all four categories. Mazikeen too, possessed these qualities and had become one of Lucifer's closest friends and had even been his lover from time to time. Having met Detective Decker, the demoness hated to admit it, but the human woman also had these charms, although she used them very differently. This alone was enough to tell Lili that the marriage, while legal on paper, was a ruse.

When asked why he was doing this, he explained that if his parents could willfully manipulate, then so could he. Lucifer wanted to know what was going on in his mum's scheming head. A Goddess she might be, but she had little to no understanding of humanity. He was certain that if she believed that she had broken her son to the point that he would marry the first pretty thing he saw out of spite . . . well who knows what she might divulge. He had no doubts that his mother would, without hesitation, try to redirect his anger back towards his Dad in order to reach her goals. They had been playing this game for so long it had become a tad predictable.

Lilith listened to his strategy and it certainly had merit. Anything that went against the Goddess was instantly approved of by the demoness. She hated the fallen angel's mum with a passion. The conniving witch had tried to prevent the birth Velius, Lili's and the Lucifer's only son together, because he was half human. The queen of the damned also tended to see the bitch as weak and cruel when it came to her children. Lilith had over seven hundred children and she ruled over them with an iron fist. She would readily concede that she was far from 'mother of the year' and she never dared boast that she was warm or nurturing. One thing for certain though, she had never lied to them or manipulated them and none would dare cross her, not even Mazikeen.

The only part of the devil's plan that she had issue with was the part that he was not mentioning . . . Chloe Decker. The demoness, herself, had seen how close the two had become and how they clearly loved each other. His sudden return with this lovely new wife on his arm would be devastating. Lucifer of all men should know what happens when a woman is scorned. Of course, Lilith cared very little for the detective's feelings or really what happened to her at all. She was the first and only true rival the demoness had ever had when it came to Lucifer's heart or interests and that alone made Lili despise her. For a short while the two women had gotten along, but that changed when the queen of demons returned from Hell and the detective believed that she had been duped. Neither could stand the other now, although out of respect for the devil they remained civil.

"And Chloe?" She asked, curious to know if he had considered what would happen when be introduced his wife to the love of his life.

'What about the detective?"

"What do you think she's going to say when she meets the charming Mrs. Morningstar?" at her question he sighed. He had thought about it and still felt that the best protection against false emotions was Candy armor.

"What we felt was a lie. Dear old Dad created the trap, but it was Mum that used it." He was still hurting and angry. All it took to bring back the pain was to recall his mum telling him the truth that night and the picture of Amenadiel sitting with Chloe's mom. Yes, Candy would fix everything, he was sure of it. He had thought out his plan far better than it appeared on the surface.

"And you think that showing up after two weeks with a new bride will somehow return your relationship back to just friendship? I hate to tell you this 'old scratch', but hearts are not stopwatches or timers, you can't just reset them. There will be hurt feelings." The conviction with which she said this brought back a recollection to the devil. Between nearly losing Lux, discovering his feelings for the detective, uncovering the lies and Chloe being poisoned, he had almost forgotten it. It was a simple conversation he had shared with Velius just before he left LA. He suddenly recalled his son's words vividly 'for as long as I can remember mum's been in love with you. I never thought I would see the day when she would completely step aside for another woman.' Suddenly it occurred to him that he may have unintentionally rubbed salt into a wound. It was a subject he had wanted to broach for some time and yet he wanted to avoid it too. He moved over to her and rested his hands on the cool surface of the bar on either side of her then looked into her lovely emerald green eyes.

"Are you speaking from personal experience?" He asked. Perhaps it was his immense ego or maybe it was simply because he thought that a relationship with the detective was impossible. Right now he didn't feel like he could trust anything or anyone because he couldn't tell if it was real or his Dad's doing. He knew he could believe in Lilith. He had always been able to trust in his beloved Aḻakāṉa. Right now, more than anything he wanted to hear her say she loved him. He needed to hear her say it.

"Do you really think I would ever be such a fool as to give my heart away? Not bloody likely." She answered resolutely.

"You didn't give it to your precious captain bun buns?" He pressed, grinning wickedly. She knew he was referring to her human fiancé Christian and she looked at him skeptically. She had loved Christian more than she ever thought she could love any human. When he died he took a piece of her heart with him, but not all of it. It had taken Dr. Linda's observations to make her realize who laid claim to the line share of her heart. Unfortunately, Lilith was probably the most stubborn creature ever created by God. She couldn't admit to any such attachment, not even to herself.

"Well, there is always the exception, but . . . he's gone and I assure you I will never be so foolish again."

"If you were needing a distraction from the feels, then you should have come with me to Vegas. You would have found plenty of men like the wanker that was just in here to fill up your time and your bed." Lucifer quickly pointed out.

"Perhaps you're right, I should have."

"Of course I am. Lucifer and Lilith running around sin city together, sounds like a match made in . . . well, perhaps not quite heaven." The devil was trying to provoke his favorite mistress and see if what Velius claimed was true. "To be honest, I doubt anyone would have been shocked if I had come back with you as my wife."

"Probably not. ." She returned with a half-laugh.

"It would have been perfect. They all believe you to be my girlfriend anyway, so not one would have been surprised to meet Lilith Morningstar, not even Amenadiel or Mum. In fact, their annoyance would have been an added bonus." Even as he laughed at the notion, she did not, but stared at him quite seriously. Lili mentally kicked herself for not going with him to Las Vegas, but she knew that it would have made little difference in his choices. As a seductress she had the ability to play with mortal hearts as though they were tinker toys. Perhaps that was the reason she guarded hers so fiercely. As far as she knew Lucifer was completely unaware of her feeling for him, but even so she couldn't bear to hear him make light of something quite serious to her. The joke was wearing thin and she wanted him to understand that.

"You are far too calculating to make so costly a mistake as marrying me." She maintained, looking deep into his sparkling black eyes.

"You think I wouldn't?"

"I'm afraid that is one vow that neither Heaven nor Hell could release you from, nor would I."

There is was, an 'I love you' without the words ever being said. They were evident in her tone and the expression of her face. He couldn't speak. Perhaps it was not how he expected it, but it was there none the less. The demoness had made his time in Hell more bearable. She was the mother of his son and he couldn't imagine parting with her for anything. There was comfort in her arms and he knew that if everyone on earth, Heaven or Hell turned their back on him, she would still extend her hand. Yes, damn it, he loved Lilith, he had for ages, but he was not in love with her. That depth of feeling, despite his best efforts, was still very much for Chloe. That was something he couldn't change. He looked into that flower soft face and gently caressed her cheek with his hand. Whether out of habit or a real desire, he leaned forward to taste her lips. The demoness craved his kiss and indeed would have liked to have taken him right there on the bar. She wanted to move his body to the very heights of pleasure until he cried out his own Father's name and begged her to stop. She had done it before. Unfortunately that would have to wait for another day when he was not bound to another. Just before his lips could brush hers she pulled away.

"Your wife is waiting for you upstairs." She cautioned before gently pushing him back and getting down off the bar. She was right of course and Lucifer knew it, but the rejection stung all the same. He watched her as she went around the bar and opened a small fridge. From it she took out a bottle of Champagne Armand de Brignac Brut and smiled. "Let's go and find your bride so we can celebrate your nuptials."

"Do you always keep expensive wine like that at the ready, I mean, you own a dive. I can't imagine too many people come in here to celebrate."

"Christian and I were going to drink it on our wedding night. Obviously that's not going to happen. I would hate for it to go to waste." She explained then handed the bottle to him. He smiled, quite touched at the gesture.

"Aḻakāṉa . . ." He started softly, but found himself unable to continue.

"Go on, 'old scratch'. I'll be along in a minute I need to finish locking up.

Without a word he started towards the door to the loft apartment. She watched him as he went upstairs then reached to turn the radio off only to stop as the song caught her attention. Listening to Ella Fitzgerald's warm full voice singing Oh, Lady Be Good, she couldn't help thinking that it was truly time to move on. It wasn't as though the demoness didn't know what she wanted, far from actually. She wanted that same deep attachment that she had experienced with Christian and that Lucifer had with Chloe. Yes, she loved the devil, but he would never be hers. Perhaps it was best that he had married the nauseating Candy. His hands should be plenty full, what with being wrapped up (albeit temporarily) in a marriage license, reconciling with Chloe and trying to deal with his scheming mother. Yes, that should keep him off her doorstep for quite some time. Hearts heal much quicker when not reminded of what they cannot have. Softly she told herself that there were other loves to be had in this world. Perhaps tomorrow she would go down to the police station and visit Detective Espinoza or see what other well-built examples of law and order she could lay her hands on. A smile spread across her face at the thought. Sometimes it was good be Lilith.

She switched off the stereo then started to walk towards the door to bolt it when to her surprise a very tall, leather jacket-clad man walked in. Even in the low light of the bar, her attention was immediately caught by the finest pair of azure eyes she had ever seen. They were pale blue with a natural touch of melancholy to them. They also happened to be attached to a man who could have been mistaken for a Greek God. Lilith was sure he was a smidge taller than Lucifer with nearly shoulder length blond hair, but oh those eyes. He looked about the establishment then looked at her uncertain.

"Are you getting ready to close?"

"Actually the bar closed a while ago." She explained.

"Oh, uh, sorry, I just got off a thirty hour shift at the hospital and was on my way home when I noticed that your open sign was still lit . . ." He pointed to the neon sign in the window and Lili began to apologize profusely. "I thought it was a little odd since its past two in the morning."

"I am so sorry, I was in the process of closing up for the night and I'm afraid I got distracted by 'other' things including the devil, himself." She quickly went over and switched the sign off then went back over to the 'tall drink of water' wrapped in leather. "Thirty hours, that's a long shift."

"Yeah, I'm a resident at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Fortunately I have tomorrow off."

"Well, I can't legally sell you any drinks right now and I'm afraid I have a rather unexpected house guest upstairs, but perhaps you could come back tomorrow, and collect that drink . . . on the house of course. Perhaps you could even spare a few minutes for me to hit on you?" The man suddenly started laughing. To be honest he was both surprised and a bit turned on by her boldness. He certainly liked what he was seeing. She may have had the face of an innocent beauty but she clearly had a body for sin and was not woman to play coy or tease.

"You're not one to beat around the bush are you?"

"I believe that desire shouldn't be contained, it's unnatural and if you desire something then make it happen." Her jade gaze moved between the soft pale pink lips and his gentle blue eyes. "Trust me, if there's one thing I know, its desire." Perhaps she was not meant to have the one her heart truly wanted, but there were plenty of consolations prizes to be had. "I'm Lili." She introduced herself as she extended her hand to him.

"Dominique . . . Dominique Cable." He returned shaking her hand. "As a matter of fact, I think I'll just take you up on that offer.

"Dominique." She whispered. "Of the Lord" she remarked, thinking of the names meaning. Who says God doesn't have a sense of humor?

"I should let you get back to your house guests, but I will be back tomorrow for that drink." Dominique started towards the door, not really wanting to go.

"Until tomorrow then." She walked him to the door and watched as he got back on his bike, slipped his helmet over his head and rode off. Lilith smiled to herself as she thought about the promises of tomorrow.

"Aḻakāṉa, are you coming?" Lucifer's cheerful voice suddenly broke her from her reverie. She saw him standing at the bottom of the stairs, poking his head through the doorway. "Is something wrong?" He had noticed it was taking her quite a while to lock up.

"Sorry, 'old scratch' I had to take care of something." She turned the bolt then joined him at the stairs.

"Well, you've suddenly acquired a new sparkle in your eye. What exactly happened down here?" He asked a bit suspiciously.

"Nothing that concerns you. Now let's go drink some champagne,"

Even as the door to the upper levels clicked behind them, the two old friends knew they were embarking on different paths. Lucifer was confident that he would soon find out whatever plot was lurking in the devious Charlotte Richards and turn it to his advantage. He also had great hopes of that his partnership with the detective would return to a friendlier, platonic relationship. Lilith was looking forward to getting to know the dashing Dominque Cable and going on some adventures of her own separate from the devil and his family drama.

Neither of them would have felt so light and easy if they had known the dark forces beginning to swirl around them. When Lucifer had returned to get the antidote recipe to save Chloe, it had not gone unnoticed by at least one soul. Pushing against the great iron door and thick chains this dark twisted soul managed to create a gap large enough to see out of the cell. His large black doe eyes saw the Lord of Hell just as he materialized in the corridor. He could put on a fancy black suit and wear a human guise, but there was no mistaking him. Lucifer quickly disappeared down the passage unaware he was being watched. The man in the cell continued his observations as eventually a woman appeared as well. He was uncertain who this was, but she was celestial, of that he was sure. No human or demon could come and go from Hell without angelic intervention.

After several minutes the devil returned with the woman and he watched as they vanished before his eyes. The Sovereign of Hell was gone, really gone. There was no one to stop his escape. A dark smile curled his lips and putting his scarred back against the door, he began to push with every ounce of his strength until the gap was wide enough for him to slip his hand through and grasp the chain. With a mighty yank he snapped one of the links breaking the shackles and allowing the door to swing open. For the first time since he was a boy, he was free and he was determined to make the Lightbringer pay.