Meridian Pointe Apartments was a large three story complex painted in shades of grey and surrounded by palm trees. It boasted numerous amenities from an olympic sized pool to a private workout facility for its residents. Its location was ideal, particularly for college students. In fact, finding tenants was hardly an issue and the building was generally quite full. There was only one place that remained empty. A virtual time capsule, apartment #M110-A had remained untouched since the last resident, Asher Tavor died seven years before. The rent was paid promptly every month, but the objects and furniture inside the two bedroom apartment had not been touched in seven years. An English teacher over at nearby California State University Northridge, he was well liked by the students and staff and very close to his parents. It had only taken one careless moment to bring it all to a crashing end. A college student texting on their cell phone had blown through a stop sign on campus while driving too fast and hit Asher as he was walking across the street.
The death had devastated his parents. His mother, Marian took to drinking her pain away. Kaleb, his father, turned into a hollowed-out shell of a man. He still went through the motions of daily life, teaching genetics at UCLA, but the spark had gone out. Unwilling to let go of his only child, he continued to pay the rent and kept everything the way Asher had left it. Every day he came to the apartment in a vain attempt to 'spend time' with his son. Sometimes he came there because it was simply easier than watching Marian drink herself into oblivion. He always brought a sack lunch that he had made at home and was careful to make sure that it all left with him so as not disturb anything in the apartment. Silently he looked out the window and watched as the newest tenant pulled into a parking space riding a Kawasaki touring bike that was a gorgeous red. On the back was a set of saddlebags from which he pulled out a suit jacket and tie which he tossed over his shoulder. He had seen him around the apartment complex before and although he didn't know his name, he looked to be around the same age as Asher when he died.
The resemblance ended with age and Kaleb started to turn away from the window when something suddenly caught his eye. The unknown man pulled a receipt from his pocket and looked it over. It was probably from buying gas, food or anything really. He glanced at the paper then looking around carefully held it in the palm of his head where it inexplicably vanished in momentary spark of fire. It lasted less than a second, but the old man's dark brown eyes grew wide. What the hell was that? His first inclination was to follow the strange young man as he went to his apartment and find out how he did it, but the clock on the wall chimed the hour and he knew he was due back at UCLA.
Locking his son's apartment he headed out to his car and glanced back at the door he had seen the other man disappear into. Rather than confront him, perhaps it would be best to simply watch him for a while. After-all, he was a doctor, specifically a geneticist and had long since given up on magic and miracles. What he had seen may be nothing more than a cheap magicians trick and he didn't want to be taken in. Pulling out of the parking lot he barely noticed as Chloe's car pulled in. The detective and civilian consultant had spent the better part of their drive debating whether or not Velius Haides killed the Preacher-man. Lucifer argued his belief that the man couldn't have done it and just seeing him on the security camera at a nurses station proved nothing. Det. Decker couldn't understand why her partner was so certain of this man's innocence and pointed out that his arrival at the facility and time of death couldn't have been more perfect.
Together they walked to the door and knocked. Nervous, Lucifer quickly straightened his coat knowing that whatever was on the other side of that door could make things very awkward. If Lilith answered he would have a hell of a time explaining to Chloe how the dead came back to life. There was also the possibility that she was hiding in the guise of an animal. He wasn't sure he could come up with a quick plausible reason why someone would keep such a deadly creature in their apartment. Most importantly, Velius was in there and he had no idea what to say or do when he saw him. Before he could come up with something the bolt of the door clicked and the door swung open. For the first time on he looked upon his own flesh and blood and found himself to be utterly speechless. His dark eyes looked over his offspring taking in every detail. This half-human, half-angel was a few inches shorter then himself, and had a muscular build that was evident through his t-shirt. Ella had been accurate when she had seen his face on the security footage and commented that he had Lucifer's nose and cheek bones. One thing was certain, Velius' eyes sparkled like two perfect emeralds. Unfortunately he was using them to look Chloe up and down appraisingly.
"Heeello." He said, smiling and raising an eyebrow
"Detective Decker, LAPD. Do you mind if we ask you some questions?" She flashed her badge, but Velius seemed unaffected. He looked past the detective to her partner. He recognized the devil and was pleasantly surprised to see him there. He could not recall any time in all his long life when he had ever stood so close to the great 'Light Bringer'. Returning his gaze to Chloe, he continued to smile broadly as he once more looked her over. Lilith had told him about the detective as well as Lucifer's feelings toward her. He knew the proper and respectful thing would have been to mind his manners and answer Det. Decker's questions like a gentlemen, but where was the fun in that? When would he ever have the chance to verbally poke the devil with a stick?
"Well the answer to your question is 'yes', I do give incredible all-over body massages. I'm also a really good cook, so what kind of food do you like?" He asked, leaning against the door frame, a mischievous twinkle in his eye.
"Okay, enough of that," Lucifer interjected moving himself between the detective and Velius. "I'm afraid her dance card is full, so just answer the lady's questions." Chloe rolled her eyes. She was in no mood to be the prize in a pissing contest between two dominant males. If someone made a pass at her it was no big deal and she could amply take care of herself. Lord knows, she had been hit on by witnesses and suspects long before she ever met the infuriating Mr. Morningstar. Velius didn't seem the least bit intimidated, just continued to smile as the detective pushed the devil aside.
"Now, about those questions?" She asked, taking back control of the situation.
"First, I'd like to know what this is about." He answered.
"It's about a visit you paid to the Preacher-man, Levi Sethos." At the name he immediately he stepped aside and gestured the detective and Lucifer inside. As the fallen angel passed through the door the two of them locked eyes for a moment and he wondered how much Velius knew about his parentage. "According to the security cameras at DSH-Atascadero, you were the last person to see Levi Sethos before he was mysteriously killed by a snake bite."
"You think I smuggled a venomous serpent into the facility and killed the Preacher-man?" Velius couldn't repress a slight laugh at the idea.
"If you didn't do it, your timing was awfully convenient."
"Exactly how am I supposed to have hidden it? Better yet, how did I conceal it and not get bitten myself?" He countered. "I also ride a motorcycle so getting the snake to the facility might have been a bit of an issue." His arguments were the same as the ones Lucifer had made in the car, but she wasn't ready to drop it just yet. When Chloe had a gut feeling she was usually right and right now she had that feeling. "Do you also have a motive for me Det. Decker?" He continued, much to her frustration. When she performed her background check on him she hadn't turned up anything that would prove he even knew the Preacher-man prior to that day. Adding to her aggravation was her partner's inability to act like his normal self. Normally he would have made at least a dozen snarky or inappropriate comments by now. At the very least he should have been in in his face asking Velius Haides what he desired more than anything. Not once had she needed to reign him in and it was weird to see him so quiet. Taking a deep breath she collected herself and continued her line of questioning.
"Why don't you tell me about your pets?"
"That's easy, I have none." He answered.
"Really, mind if I look around your apartment?"
"Go ahead, you won't find any animals, reptilian or otherwise. You also won't find any snake handling equipment either." He answered smugly. The detective looked at him skeptically.
"How about an owl? A Panther maybe? Perhaps you have a fat-tailed scorpion running around?" The fallen angel chimed in. His natural waggish tongue belying his true interest in asking that question. Chloe turned and looked as Lucifer as though he was crazy. What did any of those creatures have to do with the one they were looking for? Velius wasn't the least bit upset by the question, rather, his eyes lit up in appreciation. He knew very well what animals his mother could change into and obviously so did the Lord of Hell.
"A bit too exotic for my taste." He answered, never taking his eyes off the devil. Det. Decker shook her head then went down the short hallway to the bedroom and began to look around.
The two men kept their eyes locked on each other without speaking. Lucifer went to the coffee table and picked up a heavy leather arm length glove and held it up. They both knew that the item was used for handling animals with talons . . . like a great horned owl. The fallen angel was not about to tell Chloe who this man was to him and they certainly couldn't talk openly in front of her. He wanted to know where Lilith was and taking a chance, he switched to an old forgotten language and posed his question.
"Uṉ am'mā eṅkē?" This dialect was known to Velius and he answered his elder without hesitation.
"Iṅkē illai." No, he didn't know where his mother was. All she had told him was she was going upstate for a couple of days to see an old couple with the last name Elam. Lucifer immediately recognized the name. They were the parents of Christian Elam, Lilith's former human fiancé. To Velius this was something of a dream come true. He had spent countless hours watching the devil from a distance, knowing the truth but unable to say anything. He had never hoped for Lucifer's acknowledgment, but had often wished for the opportunity to simply exchange a word or two with him. The moment was lost, however, as Chloe came back into the room and proceeded to open cupboards and rummage through anything that she thought might yield a result.
"Can you tell me why you went to see the Preacher-man?" She asked shaking out some books laying on the coffee table.
"I'm a free-lance writer, detective. Right now I have a couple of publications chomping at the bit to get my story on Levi Sethos. They already paid me quite a lot of money for my exclusive pictures of the holy madman in his cell."
"You're writing an article?" The detective once again seemed quite doubtful as the veracity of this claim.
"Yes. He's a modern day fallen angel." His gaze turned to Lucifer as he spoke. "Not as spectacular as the fall of the Archangel Samael, but then their circumstances were completely different. This man became corrupted by avarice, lust and power. He expected the world to turn at his every whim and in the end he was reduced to a babbling lunatic in a cage. I guess you could say I've always had a certain fascination for those who have been cast out of heaven for one reason or another." Lucifer's eyes grew wide and he became certain that Velius knew exactly who he was. The young man pulled out his tablet and opened the file where he stored the article. "I really didn't think they would let me in, but the nurse and I were able to work out an arrangement. I met the Preacher-men and she was able to work out a lot of tension." The detective rolled her eyes in disgust. "I am a man of my word."
Not entirely satisfied with this answer, she began to glance around the room hoping to find some clue she had missed. A small piece of lacy fabric sticking out of a couch cushion suddenly caught her eye. Pulling it out, she was surprised to find a bright red, lace, underwire bra. Apparently Velius had friends and she wondered if they were the type to assist him with endeavors outside the bedroom.
"Who's your friend?"
"Jocelyn and her twin Jaqueline. I met them at Sound nightclub last night. Two very giving women." At this the detective instantly dropped the bra and uttered a slight gagging sound. Glancing into his sink she noticed two coffee cups. Casually she held up the cups where he would see them.
"Is this also your girlfriends?" Chloe asked.
"Nope, my mother came by this morning to check on me. She's a bit of a worrier." He answered with a sigh.
"You know, I looked into you and I can't find anything on a 'Velius Haides' before a few days ago." Going over to a cheap leather briefcase the celestial half-breed took out several documents and a passport then tossed it in front of her. Chloe glanced through them and could see that they were basically in order. Looking at the passport she saw he had been born in the Middle East, specifically near the Red Sea in Saudi Arabia.
"We're your parent's missionaries?" She asked causing him to laugh as she handed him back his paperwork.
"I wouldn't call my parents 'missionary' people . . . no." He responded rather tongue-in-cheek. Despite his best attempts, a laugh escaped Lucifer which he quickly suppressed when Chloe shot him a look.
"Thank you for your time, Mr. Haides. We'll be in touch." The detective feigned a smile then started for the door. The two men once more locked eyes and for a moment Lucifer was very much inclined to stay and talk with this child of his. There was much to be said. Before he took that step, however, he needed to talk to Lilith. There were things he still needed to know.