"Their foot shall slide in due time"

-Deuteronomy 32:35

"For behold, the Lord will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire."

Isa. 66:15

I perceived by the Book in my hand, that I am condemned to die, and after that to come to Judgment, and I find that I am not willing to do the first, nor able to do the second.

-Bunyan, Pilgrim's Progress


The city was infested, not unlike the rest of the world. Lucifer let his gaze drift over the homeless beggars that scavenged along the street. Ripe souls ready to beg at his feet, so susceptible to seduction, all he needed was to set the stage.

"A fresh start," a voice echoed in his mind. Lucifer glanced up at the patrol car. "That's what this place needs." Heat flashed across the road as glass and flaming debris blasted from the weapons vault. The patrol car screeched, tires smoking as the driver tried to stop.

"You always did know how to make an entrance," Lucifer chuckled as Michael emerged from the burning cross. His eyes widened as he spied the arsenal his brother carried.

The cops emerged from the vehicle, jerking at their weapons. Michael watched them carefully as they aimed their guns at him. "Drop the bags put your hands on your head"

The radio hissed from within the patrol car. Emergencies were broadcasting over one another. Michael closed his eyes for a brief moment as if in deep pain. "It's started."

"Shut the fuck up. Drop the bags and put your hands on your head. On your head! Turn around. Turn the fuck around." Michael did as he was ordered and slowly turned his back on the approaching men. The smaller officer moved to secure the angelic general but before the cuff could ratcheted around his wrist, Michael twisted the cop's arm behind his back and pressed the barrel of the gun into his neck. "Jesus - Let him go" The officer twitched and jerked, his face twisting in a grotesque knot before straitening.

The officer's partner watched in confusion. "What the – what?"

Lucifer barely contained his desire to step closer to the possessed officer. "What are you doing Michael? These weren't your orders," the voice emerged from the distorted mouth.

"What are you saying?" his partner stammered, glancing between the creature that held him and the other officer.

"No, I'm following my own orders now." Lucifer's eyes widened as the mystery began to unfold. His gaze flashed up to the heavens in surprise.

"Then you will die along with the child."

"Burton? You fucking know this -" the gun fired from the possessed officer. The bullet tore through the chest of the other cop. Michael took his aim and squeezed the trigger. The shot struck his attacker between the eyes. Michael dropped his dead shield and gathered his bags.

Lucifer shook his head and chuckled as his brother pulled away in the patrol car. "You truly can not bare to lose," he sneered. Beelzebub and Belial emerged from the surrounding darkness and approached their prince. "Destroy the vessels. Preserve as much of mankind as possible."

"My Prince... surely -" Belial hissed as Lucifer cut him off with a glare.

"Earth is mine. We are on the brink of victory once again. He will not take it from us again."

"Where do you fly?" Beelzebub asked as Lucifer stretched out his wings.

"The manger."

***

Lucifer paused outside the entrance to the diner. Paradise Falls. He grinned at the irony. His brother was due to arrive. What a surprise it will be, Lucifer thought. The last time they had been face to face he had been on the receiving end of his brother's sword. He and Gabriel had always been the enforcers of their group. Lucifer's tongue was his weapon, and as far as he was concerned a far more superior weapon than forged, angelic steal.

A jingle of bells announced his entrance to the inhabitants of the diner. The lone girl in a privat booth glanced up from her magazines, locking eyes with him. Audrey. He grinned in greeting. She shivered, the tiny hairs on her neck stood on end under his seductive gaze. It was gone as soon as it had come as he took in the others.

"But it's gonna burn." A vessel – Gladys.

"What did you just say?" Charlie shifted, hand on her popped hip. The tension in the diner doubled. Lucifer glided away from the entrance, unnoticed as the possessed woman now stole the attention of all present.

"I said your fucking baby is gonna burn."

Charlie shook her eyes, angry tears prickled her eyes. "Go to hell, lady." She stormed through the entryway into the back. "Freak." Lucifer clucked his tongue and slipped into the last bar stool under the television.

"All the little babies are gonna burn."

"Weak-minded fool," Lucifer sighed. He peered through the half closed blinds in the direction of Los Angeles.

"Gladys, um..." Sandra began, offering a curt smile to hide the awkward tension.

Gladys' face twisted, eyes turning to pitch as she snarled in a demonic voice, "Shut up you stupid cunt, all you do it complain, complain, complain -"

"What? What did -"

"Howard, no -"

"What did you just say to my wife?" Howard snapped.

"Wrath is not a vice coupled wit heroics, Howard," Lucifer purred. For a moment Howard lost his anger as he peered at the dark stranger in the corner. The blank look passed his face, however, as the old woman's words replayed in his mind. He stalked over to her.

"Howard -"

"No – I don't know who the hell you think you are, but you better apologize -" Gladys launched her self at Howard and bit through a chunk of his throat. The chaos twisted in a slow progress before their unbelieving eyes as Howard collapsed to the floor in shock.

"You're all gonna fucking die!"

"Shame." Lucifer shook his head, about to whisper in Kyle's ear when Percy threw the hot cast iron pan at the woman's head. The crack sliced through Audrey and Sandra's screams. Head bent at an unnatural angle, the possessed woman twisted upright to stare at the cook. She shrieked, a piercing scream that sent the shocked into frantic action. Gladys leapt on the wall and scampered up the ceiling as Bob fired rounds from the rifle at the figure. Kyle jumped backwards, eyes wide and hands shaking.

His heart pulse loud in his ears as he watched, frozen, as what seemed a frail, old woman throw Bob across the diner. Lucifer stood and approached the still human. His lips were at his ear and all Kyle could hear was his voice. His hand was around his gun, finger resting against the trigger.

"Shoot the bitch, Jeep!" Percy screamed.

"Shoot her, Kyle."

"But I've -"

"Kill her, Kyle. Save them. Fire." The syllable vibrated deep in his head. Kyle squeezed again and again, sending three bullets into the woman's back seconds before she reached Jeep. Kyle's hand shook as he started at the dead body. Lucifer smirked. "Good, boy."

Kyle pulled away, shaking his head as he dropped to the floor next to Sandra and Audrey. "Put pressure on it. Don't look at me like that. Let's go!"

"Dial 911 – we have to get to a hospital." Percy helped Kyle pull the wounded man to his feet. They five scurried out the door and to the single working vehicle. Lucifer turned back to the bar and poured himself a scotch in a stained coffee cup.

"Who the hell are you, Mister?" Bob snapped, reaching for his riffle.

"I think you know very well who I am, Robert Hanson." Lucifer peered at the scruffy diner owner over his shoulder. Jeep glanced between him and his father. Lucifer winked and turned back to his drink.

"Come on, pop." Jeep pulled his father into the back with him. Bob paused and swiped Percy's open beer off the stove and stumbled into the back room.