"What about the horns?"
"No horns. Or tail, I might add."
"Can you turn into a snake?"
"No, that's ridiculous."
"What about a goat?"
"Ugh! No! I hate the goat, there was never a goat..."
"Okay, how about wings?"
It had been five days since Mercy officially moved in at Lux and Save My Hero became it's band. It was close to when the club officially opened and the main bar area was still empty save Lucifer, Maze, and Mercy. Lucifer had explained the situation to Maze that lead to Mercy becoming a tenant instead of just a regular performer. She'd been just as confused and intrigued as Lucifer, but Mercy often got the sense that the demon didn't really like her being there.
"I cut them off," Maze said. She was behind the bar, leaning on it with her forearms and eyeing Mercy where she sat on the edge of the small stage.
"Maze cut them off," Lucifer confirmed from where he was plucking random little songs on the piano.
"That sounds... painful," Mercy said. "Why?"
"Prove a point," Lucifer said. "I can't go back to Hell without them. So, I had them removed."
"Could you... fly with them?" Mercy asked.
"Of course," Lucifer replied.
"Okay, so Amenadiel has wings," Mercy said.
"He does."
"And he can fly."
"He can."
"So, what's stopping him from flying you back to Hell?" Mercy frowned over at her angelic land lord.
Lucifer laughed. "Oh, he can try."
Maze was smirking in wicked amusement as well. Mercy took that as confidence rather than arrogance. It was a bit reassuring, considering Amenadiel was the one that might supposedly kill her.
"I'm guessing these wings act more like a teleporting device," Mercy mused.
"What makes you say that?" Maze asked.
"Well, I mean, I heard Amenadiel fly out here and there's no gaping hole in the ceiling," Mercy said, gesturing around. "Sooo that means it just transported him out of here. And it's not like anyone can physically just waltz over to Hell or Heaven."
"Astute observations." Lucifer played a soft little tune.
"So... Amenadiel is the only one that's here? On Earth, I mean?" Mercy asked. "Everyone else is just up in Heaven sipping tea?"
"For now, it seems that way," Lucifer said. "I've been out of Hell for five years and he's the only one that's come calling. Perhaps because of his ability; that might be why Father sent him over anyone else. Keeps the public in the dark about our presence. Divine beings aren't meant to be among you lot."
"Ah, okay, and the whole time thing helps him keep your pissing matches relatively out of human eyes," Mercy concluded.
"Relatively," Lucifer agreed, shooting her a small smirk.
All in all, Mercy's time at Lux hadn't been bad. Her apartment was larger and fancier than her old one, complete with a massive bedroom, a sink-in tub and walk-in shower, a large living area and quant little kitchen. Lucifer had it furnished for her, so all she had to bring really was her clothes and other personal effects. She was allowed to come and go as she pleased, but every so often Maze would text asking where she was; evidently Lucifer didn't have a phone of his own, which was kind of baffling.
Mercy didn't spend a lot of time in the club area when it was open to the public, but when she was there, she observed Lucifer at work. He was excellent at entertaining his guests, whether that be mingling among them, dancing, buying drinks, or playing the piano and singing. He had a decent voice, and loving music as much as she did, Mercy was always rather eager to hear him play.
Lucifer often ended his nights with heading up to his penthouse, usually with at least one person in tow. It was clear what his intentions with them were, be them man or woman, and more often than not he had multiple partners. Mercy hadn't been up to his penthouse, but she could only imagine how blinding it would be with a UV light.
While making the occasional suggestive comment to her here and there, Lucifer didn't make any major passes at Mercy. She had a feeling that he knew she barely consented to living in the building and if he started trying to sleep with her every chance he had, she'd disappear faster than he could blink.
At least, that was Mercy's plan if things didn't pan out here. If something happened with Lucifer or she got the feeling her life was in more danger sticking with him, she felt she had no other choice but to leave. It was frustrating and she didn't want to ditch everything and start all over again, but... Conor didn't sacrifice so much so she could get killed by...
Angels.
Mercy still wasn't entirely used to using the word and knowing the truth; she wasn't sure if she ever would. The past five days had been her trying to learn as much as she could of this new world while still trying to seem normal to her bandmates.
"So, if Amenadiel does show up..." Mercy said, looking over at Lucifer warily. "What exactly do I do? Stay really, really still?"
"By the time you even know he's there, it would probably be too late," Lucifer said. "Sometimes, even I don't notice his arrival before I see things slowing."
"Okay, so what do I do?" Mercy pressed.
"I have a plan, but I'm not entirely certain it'll work," Lucifer admitted.
"That's reassuring," Mercy breathed.
"You should be grateful that Lucifer's concerned about your wellbeing at all," Maze snapped at her.
"No biting, Maze," Lucifer scolded. "I'm going to suggest that my own power might be behind why you're unaffected by him."
"I thought you didn't lie," Mercy said.
"I don't, that's why I said suggest." Lucifer looked up from the piano keys.
"That seems like the same thing," Mercy pointed out.
"You're going to question how he keeps you safe?" Maze said tightly.
"Well, you know, it is only my life we're talking about here," Mercy replied sarcastically. "It's not like I want to be certain I'll be fine."
"He might not fall for it, it's true," Lucifer said. "But like I told you, I'm not letting him get near you. So basically, if you see things slowing down, go to either me or Maze as quickly as possible. Whoever's closer."
Mercy cast a wary glance toward Maze who curled her upper lip and folded her arms across her chest.
"Yes, Maze will protect you too," Lucifer said. "She does anything I instruct."
"Still don't know why we're wasting time with this," Maze said. "I say let Amenadiel have her. At least he'll be distracted from bothering us for a while."
"Maze." Lucifer stopped playing and shot a stern glare over at her. "This is my decision and it's final."
Maze scoffed softly but didn't say anything more. Mercy sighed and folded her hands while propping her forearms on her knees. "I don't mean to come across ungrateful."
"You're not, ignore her," Lucifer assured as he got to his feet. "She's just bitter that her elaborate scheme to annoy me with hiring your band in the first place has turned out to be so entertaining for me."
He smirked toward Maze and she rolled her eyes.
"So, what's our plan?" Mercy asked. "I mean, we haven't really established how we're going to figure me out."
"Don't worry about that," Lucifer insisted. "I have a few people who owe some favors doing research. Meanwhile, there are some tests of my own I want to run."
"Tests?" Mercy echoed. "I thought you said I wasn't a guinea pig."
"You're not, but we need to know the extent of your... abilities," Lucifer explained.
"Doesn't sound horrifying at all," Mercy said sarcastically.
"I think it'll be fun," Lucifer insisted as he sat down on the stage beside her. "Now, I want you to look at me."
"Why?" Mercy asked warily.
"Just do it, come on," Lucifer said.
Mercy exhaled sharply and turned to face him. He smiled at her.
"That's it," he said. "I want to try this again. Tell me your desire, Mercy. What is it you wish to claim above everything else? It is fame? Wealth? Anything in the universe, name it. What is it you want?"
Just like the first time they met, Mercy was aware of a slight tug to Lucifer's eyes, but even when she looked into them, she had no yearn to tell him what he asked for. She shook her head and shrugged at him. Lucifer let out a huff and frowned. It seemed like he put some real effort into that.
"Still nothing," he muttered, irritated. "What about..."
He scooted a bit closer to her and Mercy blinked in surprise. He leaned toward her and reached up to gently tuck a lock of ginger hair behind her ear. Mercy sat frozen in place, wondering what the hell he was doing.
"Surely you feel some tug toward me?" Lucifer murmured, his breath on her neck. "That primal, feral need..."
"Uh... Lucifer?" Mercy rasped.
"Yes?" Lucifer purred. "What is it you'd like to do?" He gently gripped her upper arm and leaned in, putting his mouth close to her neck.
"Punch you in the throat if you don't stop touching me," Mercy said, turning to glare at him.
Lucifer huffed in irritation and disappointment before scooting away. "Interesting as all this is, a shame that we can't have even more fun on top of it."
"Yeah, well, the stipulation of me staying here was that you would be civil," Mercy reminded him.
"I know!" Lucifer replied. "That was purely experimental. We need to understand how you tick."
Mercy narrowed her eyes at him.
Lucifer sighed. "And you're a particularly attractive specimen, what can I say?"
"He's not used to not getting what he wants," Maze said.
"You literally have your pick of the litter," Mercy said. "What does it matter if I'm immune to your... charms?"
"Forbidden fruit is the sweetest," Lucifer said. "I should know."
"Oh so that part happened." Mercy leaned back and propped herself up on her elbows.
"Of course that part happened," Lucifer said. "Dad leaving me alone with his shiny new toys... I couldn't help but test the waters."
"All right, so we know that I'm not affected by your... abilities," Mercy said. "What next?"
"Well, we have to wait for my people to get back to me," Lucifer said, pursing his lips momentarily. "Hopefully I'll hear something in a few days. In the meantime, you get to sit back and enjoy the comforts of Lux." He cast a smirk back at her.
"You do realize that Hutch had to convince me to do that first show," Mercy said.
"Why?" Lucifer frowned at her. "My club has high renown—plenty of customers who would eagerly go and buy your album after hearing you play. It was a profitable deal."
"Yes, but I detest this sort of environment," Mercy muttered, glaring around the room.
"I like to think it's rather classy," Lucifer protested.
"Compared to others, sure," Mercy said. "But it's still a cesspool of drunken, high, sexual encounters. It's all meaningless. I don't think your guests even hear half my lyrics."
"Well, I hear them." Lucifer turned to look back at her, his expression serious. "You put a lot of thought and care into your songs, don't you?"
Mercy adverted her gaze. "Enough with the flattery, Luci."
Lucifer's brows shot up. "Was that a nickname? Did you just give me a nickname? I think that's a sign of endearment!"
"Oh for the love of..." Mercy pushed herself to her feet. "I'm heading back to my hiding hole before the people start coming in."
"Why don't you stay?" Lucifer asked, reaching up and gripping her wrist gently.
"Stay?" Mercy echoed, perking a brow.
Lucifer nodded. "Let me show you that these people aren't as unfeeling as you believe."
Maze scoffed softly and walked out from behind the bar and disappeared down the stairs. Mercy knew she was off to let the guests inside.
"How exactly do you propose to do that?" Mercy asked with a shake of her head.
Lucifer grinned. "Can you play piano?"
Mercy glanced toward the grand piano she had been itching to play since she first saw it. "Yeah."
"Then come play with me," Lucifer said, getting to his feet and tugging her arm. "Whatever song you like."
"You won't know my songs," Mercy told him. "And I doubt I know anything you do."
Lucifer's wicked grin turned into a surprisingly soft smile. "I can improvise."
"You want to start the night with music?" Mercy asked as she allowed him to tow her toward the piano.
"Well, it's before they get piss drunk," Lucifer explained. "Can't very well serenade someone who's passed out."
Mercy sat down before the piano and looked over the immaculate keys and let out a long breath. She had a keyboard in her apartment, but nothing beat the beautiful and genuine song of a real piano. As Lucifer sat down beside her, Mercy let her fingers play out a a few experimental notes. The instrument was in perfect tune and its music bounced around the room. She smiled and looked over the keys with new adoration.
After exhaling, Mercy began to plunk her fingers along the keys in a slow, somber tune. Lucifer merely watched at first in curiosity. Mercy let the notes gently float across the room, feeling them reverberate through her hands.
"A bit sad, don't you think?" Lucifer asked.
"Oh, I'm sorry, Luci, I thought that I could play any song I like?" Mercy replied.
"Well, if you want to start the night with that..."
Mercy rolled her eyes and fluidly changed the song into something more upbeat. As she did so, the first of the night's guests came wandering in and smiled at the sight of Lucifer at the piano. He smiled toward them.
"We're starting the night with music, ladies and gentlemen," Lucifer declared. "Gather round, now! Our own Little Angel is going to sing us a song."
"Don't call me that," Mercy muttered before letting herself fall into the music.
After a few more seconds of her upbeat, happy little notes, she took a deep breath and began.
"Eyes shut, mind open,
I was just a young thing,
Hopin'
And I look out at all
The saddened faces
All those broken hearts
And all those shattered places
Sayin' how can I feel?
How can I cry?
How can I not try
When all those out there
Have had it so much worse
Than what's in here?
How can I hurt?
How can I break?
Sayin' how can I explain
When I don't know what
It is to feel pain?
Eyes open, mind shut,
I was just a blind thing,
Laughin'
And I look out at all
The bewildered faces
All those confused hearts
And all those filthy places
Sayin' how can I feel?
How can I cry?
How can I not try
When all those out there
Have it so much worse
Than what's in here?
How can I hurt?
How can I break?
Sayin' how can I explain
When I don't understand
How to deal with all this pain?
I don't know
What it is to be calm
I don't know
What it is to be strong
I don't know
What it is to hold on
I don't know
If lasting this long
Means that I've won
Sayin' how can I feel?
How can I cry?
How can I not try
When all those out there
Have it so much worse
Than what's in here?
How can I hurt?
How can I break?
Sayin' how can I explain
How I've survived
Through all this pain?"
By the time Mercy played the last few cheerful notes, the crowd applauded and smiled. Mercy loosed a long exhale through her nose, already knowing that most of these people didn't hear the lyrics. It was a happy fun tune with upbeat piano notes plinking in their ears. Who cares what the words are?
Lucifer, however, blinked thoughtfully at the piano keys briefly before smiling and standing up to address his audience.
"Lovely, isn't it?" he said. "Now that we've opened the night so gently, I think it's time we spice things up."
Lucifer sat back down and let his hands flow across the piano keys in a swift and elegant fashion. It was more complicated than Mercy's bubbly song and much more blues-esc. Mercy gaped as his fingers flawlessly found the notes and moved them into the intense tune.
There didn't seem to be lyrics to the song, but the crowd around them began to cheer and dance to it. Mercy watched as the music filled the room and the people. Eventually, a smile broke across her face. Most of them might not have listened to the depth of her lyrics, but that didn't make them lesser beings. Here was proof that music effected all of them; it was magic that infested the soul and brought out truth.
Lucifer nodded to the piano, moving his hands lower on the keys to make room for a second set of hands. Mercy gave him an inquisitive glance, to which he just looked at the keys again intently. She gave out a small breath, then began to play an upbeat melody. Lucifer fluidly kept playing, his tune melding with hers seamlessly.
Mercy's grin widened as they kept playing the song together. The music moved through her fingers and up her bones. It reverberated in her ribs. It flooded her skull and consumed her veins.
They played for what seemed like ages, but couldn't have been more than five minutes. When Mercy drew the song to a close, Lucifer flawlessly followed and the room erupted with cheers. Mercy gave a slightly sheepish chuckle as she got off the piano bench with Lucifer.
"Let's get the drinks flowing, shall we?" Lucifer said. "First round is on me!"
More cheers and several of the guests began to walk toward the bar. Maze was shaking a drink behind it for someone already and narrowed her eyes toward Mercy.
"She really doesn't like me," Mercy murmured.
Lucifer frowned over at her. "Who, Maze? Don't mind her, she'll come round."
"If you say so," Mercy sighed. "Thanks for playing with me, by the way." She gestured weakly to the piano.
Lucifer beamed. "It was a pleasure, I assure you." His expression became pensive. "Can I ask you something?"
Mercy narrowed her eyes. "Yes, but I might not answer."
Lucifer exhaled sharply before seeming to muster himself. "When... when you agreed to play here, to live here... you told Blake something about being close to a date?"
Mercy's breath caught and she adverted her gaze. "Er... yeah. Anniversary."
"Not a good one, I take it?" Lucifer said softly, so softly that Mercy barely heard him over the rising music playing over the speakers.
"No," Mercy replied. "Uh, I gotta go to the loo? That's what they call it on your planet, right?"
Lucifer's mouth twinged slightly in amusement, but he seemed surprisingly concerned as she quickly darted through the crowd toward the bathrooms.
Mercy stumbled into the restroom as if she'd had five drinks already. It seemed relatively empty, and her behavior wasn't really noticed by any of the other girls. And guy; she spotted him sliding into a stall with a pretty young woman. Seemed Lux's guests liked to start the party early. Trying to catch her breath, Mercy gripped the sink and looked up at her reflection.
Milky complexion, face dashed with freckles, wavy ginger hair, and pale green eyes. Conor told her that she had her mother's hair and freckles, but their father's eyes. Almost like jade stone, he'd say. If only she and Conor shared a mother as well as their father. Maybe she wouldn't...
Mercy let out a long breath and closed her eyes.
This is where I splash my face with cold water, right? Where I give myself a little pep talk and march back out there.
But Mercy wasn't sure she could move again, let alone go back out there. It was tomorrow. Tomorrow would mark four years since she had to change everything, where she had to ditch her last name, her identity, her entire life. Her friends only knew a small piece of it: that it was the day her mother died.
When Mercy finally mustered up herself enough to go back out of the bathroom, the club was in full party mode. The lights were dimmed and pulsating with the beat of the dance music pumping through the speakers. Maze was swiftly and elegantly mixing drink after drink, passing them out with ease across the bar. Several of Lux's guests were either dancing, kissing, or sitting at the tables chatting over the noise.
Lucifer was nowhere to be seen.
Mercy sighed and looked toward the elevator. She wanted to sneak off to her apartment, two floors below. Lucifer was probably off seducing a woman. Or a man. Or one of each. She began to weave through the crowd, eyes fixed on the elevator. She was mere feet from it when a hand caught her by the arm.
"Where you off to, Little Angel?" Maze asked in a sneer.
She had come out from the nearby bar to intercept her. Mercy laughed nervously and nearly gasped in relief when Maze let go of her.
Surely she wouldn't just kill me in front of everyone, right? Mercy thought.
"Not in the fun mood?" Maze teased. "C'mon. I'll mix you a drink, on the house. My favorite concoction."
"I'm actually fairly partial to living," Mercy replied warily.
Maze scoffed and smirked. "Please. There are so many more creative ways to kill you. Poison is small potatoes."
"I'm not worried about poison," Mercy said. "I'm worried about death by hangover."
Maze laughed. "And rightly so, but I've got a cure for that too."
"I'm really just not feeling well," Mercy fibbed, gesturing weakly toward the elevator.
"Please." Maze gripped her wrist and guided her back to the bar. "If you're going to live here, at least act like it."
Maze's grip was like an iron shackle. Mercy didn't even bother trying to break free of it, fearing it might snap her wrist. To her surprise, Maze pulled her behind the bar rather than having her sit in one of the stools. There were still a few customers lingering near the bar and sipping their drinks. They looked at Mercy in confusion when Maze tugged her along.
"New bartender?" one of the men asked, a middle-aged guy whose suit looked like it could pay for a Toyota Prius.
"Not exactly," Maze said. "New soul to corrupt."
"Why do you gotta say it like that?" Mercy groaned.
Maze grinned at her as she finally released her. "Because of your reaction."
Mercy's eyes darted side to side, searching for an escape, but even if the club was empty, she had a feeling Maze would catch her. With all these people, it would be impossible to get through.
The demon began to pour various alcoholic drinks into a shaker. She moved so fast, Mercy didn't even register what she was putting in it.
"Are you taking this one too, Maze?" the man asked. "You already got that cute chick with the pink hair last week. Leave some of these dolls for us."
"For one: Blake wouldn't go for you even if you were the last man on Earth," Maze said. "She's on a strict clam diet."
"Oh... why?" Mercy's face scrunched up. "Why do you talk like this?"
Maze merely smiled broadly at Mercy as she began to shake the drink.
"I'm just saying, I'm partial to redheads," the man said, leaning forward on the bar. "And this one sings like an angel. I bet I can make her sing."
Mercy looked over at him, affronted, but before she could find the closest bottle to throw at his head, a hand fell on Mercy's shoulder.
"Sorry, Mr. Shaw, this one is spoken for," Lucifer said, grinning at the man as he pulled Mercy close to his chest.
"Well, surely you can share?" Shaw asked, raising a brow at him. "You can have first go, of course, but..."
Lucifer released Mercy and put one hand on the counter to lean forward. There was still a smile on his face, but there was something predatory in his near-black eyes.
"Would a lion really share with a rat?" he asked softly.
Shaw blinked, clearly insulted. "E-excuse me? Do you realize how much money I've put in here?"
"Not nearly enough to act like the snuffling little vermin you are," Lucifer said, his voice sickly sweet. "This young lady isn't a toy to be tossed around the playroom."
"Okay! Okay..." Mercy stepped forward and patted Lucifer's chest while giving a small chuckle. "Let's not get carried away here, Luci."
Lucifer frowned at her. "I don't think you understand what Mr. Shaw—" he began.
"Oh, oh no, I understand."
Mercy fixated her gaze on the man. She looked over his thinning, clearly-dyed brown hair, his rather fit body but the slight pudge at his hips. Clearly a man who cared about image. That would be the ideal place to attack, but...
"He said he liked my singing," Mercy said, smiling at Shaw suggestively.
Lucifer gaped at her. "A... Mercy, you can't be serious," he said.
Shaw was beginning to puff up, his expression growing smug. "A lady knows what she wants," he said.
"Maze," Mercy said, looking over her shoulder at the bartender. "Can you cut the music?"
Maze had paused shaking Mercy's drink and looked just as baffled as Lucifer. "Uh... yeah, but..."
"I want to sing this... specimen a song," Mercy said, grinning back at Shaw.
As Shaw began to look more and more pleased with himself, Lucifer's eyes darted between him and Mercy. She could practically hear the cogs turning in his head as he tried to figure out what was happening.
Maze messed with a panel near the edge of the bar and the music cut out. The guests all looked up, confused and startled.
"I'll be needing the piano again!" Mercy said, quickly prancing around the bar. She went over to Shaw and grabbed his hand.
"Lucifer..." Maze said slowly.
"We'll let it play out," Lucifer murmured, still lost.
The other guests now noticed as Mercy led Shaw to the piano. He was smiling giddily and nearly spilled his drinks a few times. His hand was sweaty and Mercy wiped hers on her hand when she finally reached the piano.
"Hello, everyone," she said, looking around at the guests. "Me again. Uh, Mercy... Townsend... Anyway, this man just said that he finds my voice lovely. Apparently, he's a fan of redheads too." Mercy sat down at the piano. "I have a very, very special song for you Mr..."
"Shaw," Lucifer whisper-yelled as he approached to watch, Maze just behind him.
"Shaw," Mercy said. "To you, and anyone else who has the audacity to try and get me in bed without even knowing the first thing about me."
Shaw's face fell just as Mercy began to play the piano in an upbeat happy tune. It wasn't one of her songs, as much as she wished that she'd come up with it.
"Look inside, look inside your tiny mind, then look a bit harder," Mercy sang. "'Cause we're so uninspired, we're so sick and tired of all the hatred you harbor..."
Lucifer's expression went from awestruck to positively thrilled. His smile looked like it was going to crack his handsome face. Mercy heard laughs and some cheers from the crowd. Shaw's face was turning redder and redder by the minute.
"You're point of view is medieval... Fuck you! Fuck you very, very much... 'Cause we hate what you do and we hate your whole crew, so please don't stay in touch. Fuck you! Fuck you very, very much. 'Cause your words don't translate, and it's getting quite late, so please don't stay in touch."
Shaw was frozen to the spot, his mouth pressed into a tight line. Mercy beamed at him as she kept playing away at the piano and singing.
"Do you get, do you get a little kick of being small-minded?" Mercy sang. "It's approval you're after, you want to be like your father—"
It was at that point that Shaw angrily set his drink on the closest table, adjusted his suit jacket, and began to stalk out of the room. Mercy couldn't help but laugh a little while still trying to sing.
"Oh, come on, Mr. Shaw!" she called after him. "It's your song! Come on! Fuck you! Fuck you very, very much! 'Cause we hate what you do and we hate your whole crew, so please don't stay in touch!"
She gestured around the room with one hand briefly, and the guests started singing along the catchy chorus. In the end, Mr. Shaw had all eyes on him as he impatiently waited for the elevator with everyone singing together.
"Fuck you! Fuck you very, very much! 'Cause it's getting quite late and your words don't translate, so please don't stay in touch!"
When Shaw finally got into his elevator and the doors closed, Mercy rolled the song to a close and the crowd all whooped and laughed. Maze looked baffled into a state of shock while Lucifer was all smiles as he trotted over to Mercy's side.
"That was inspired," he told her.
"Yes, well..." Mercy looked around the room as the weight of what she just did hit her. "Oh. Oh, no."
"Oh no? Oh!" Lucifer noticed her face and gestured for her to get up. "Well, yes, ladies and gentlemen, that was an impromptu performance from Lux's own Mercy. Lovely, isn't she?" He looked over at Maze as Mercy got to her feet. "Maze, the music, would you?"
Maze looked at the drink she'd mixed for Mercy in her hands and scoffed before draining it herself and heading back toward the bar. Lucifer carefully guided Mercy toward the edge of the club.
"Why did I do that?" Mercy rasped. "He looked like he could pay for someone to kill me!"
"That won't happen," Lucifer assured.
"I just got so mad, and the idea of tricking him into going in the spotlight just to be ridiculed was... oh it was delicious," Mercy groaned.
"Interesting word choice," Lucifer noted.
"I watched The Witch last night, and the whole thing with Black Phillip—" Mercy began to explain weakly.
"Ugh, again with the bloody goat," Lucifer muttered.
When they reached the edge of the room, there was a young blonde woman sitting at a table. Lucifer went and sat down next to her, straightening his jacket as he did so.
"Sorry, Delilah, got a touch distracted," he said, gesturing for Mercy to sit on the woman's other side. "This is Mercy Townsend."
"Yeah, so I heard," Delilah said with a small giggle. "That was pretty good."
"That was... impulsive," Mercy said with a shake of her head. "Uh... Delilah, was it? Oh. Oh! You're Delilah!"
Delilah smiled a bit sheepishly. She was a rather well-known singer and not just in LA. She'd only made it big about six months ago, but her climb in the music world of the city was swift and ferocious. Though, Delilah looked like she'd seen better days. Her eye makeup was smeared from crying, her skin pale and her eyes bloodshot. She smelled of booze and perfume.
"I love your voice," Mercy said. "Astounding vibrato, really."
"Oh, thank you," Delilah said. "I like yours as well. Um... Lucifer, I had... more a personal question about that favor you did for me."
"Oh, it's quite all right, Mercy here has seen my horns, so to speak," Lucifer said.
"I thought you said you didn't have—" Mercy began.
"Metaphor, darling, keep up," Lucifer said.
Mercy rolled her eyes as Delilah shifted in her seat slightly.
"I just... I need to know..." The blonde looked into Lucifer's eyes. "Did I sell my soul to the Devil?"
Mercy blinked in astonishment at the blunt question while Lucifer laughed softly.
"No, no, no," he cooed, pulling Delilah under his arm and against his chest. "I just called in a few favors that were owed to me to get you connected to the right people. All you owe me is a favor in return."
Mercy eyed Lucifer warily. Was this how the "Deals with the Devil" worked? Favors for favors? What could he demand? What could he grant?
"A favor?" Delilah whispered.
Lucifer nodded grimly. "Yes, and prepare yourself, because it isn't going to be easy for you."
Delilah stared up at Lucifer in a mix of apprehension and fear. Mercy's pulse thrummed through her neck, and she wondered if she should be here for this.
"I need you to pull yourself together," Lucifer said.
Mercy exhaled a breath of relief as Delilah smiled.
"I... I'll try," Delilah said. "I will."
"Lucifer, you can't do that to me," Mercy rasped, putting a hand to her chest.
"Do what?" Lucifer looked over at her innocently.
"I thought I was going to see... I dunno what I thought I was gonna see, but shit," Mercy muttered.
Delilah let out a soft sigh and leaned away from Lucifer. "I was worried I'd have to sleep with someone else."
"I didn't tell you to sleep with Jimmy Barnes" Lucifer argued.
"I know, I just thought it was part of the whole thing," Delilah said.
"Producer Jimmy Barnes?" Mercy's brows raised, then she shook her head. "Never mind I don't want to know. Luci, why am I here?"
"I'll get to that," Lucifer said before looking back to Delilah. "Ditching the guy at the alter wasn't required either."
Delilah groaned and buried her face in her hands. "Uugh, I know, I know."
"I think that having a show with Mercy's band here at Lux might get you back on your feet and in the swing of things," Lucifer said, looking between the two women.
"Uh... Some of our more... bubbly songs might work," Mercy said.
"She's right, Lucifer, our genres don't mix well," Delilah pointed out.
"Well, that's what makes it interesting," Lucifer said, smiling.
Delilah sighed and smiled over at Mercy. "I'm game if you are."
"Sure," Mercy said. "Well, I have to run it by the others first, but... should be fine." She grinned nervously.
"For a shy thing, you really gave that guy a show," Delilah said as she started to get to her feet.
"Yeah, I still don't know how that happened," Mercy admitted.
"I'll walk you out," Lucifer said, following after Delilah.
"Same," Mercy hopped to her feet so fast she nearly fell over. "Er, I mean, I'm just gonna dash down the street for that Chinese food place, so..."
"You don't want to be alone with Maze or all these people, do you?" Lucifer guessed.
"Not in the least," Mercy said, grinning.
The three of them went down to the main floor and out into the street. There wasn't a line leading inside the club anymore, so it was just the three of them for the most part.
"You've got a ride?" Lucifer asked Delilah.
"Yes, my sponsor is coming to get me," Delilah said with a small sigh.
"I think I really am gonna go get some Chinese," Mercy said, staring down the street. "D'you think Maze will like me more if I give her some Wontons as an offering?"
Lucifer chuckled. "Maybe. Though I think your show impressed her."
"Oh, let me get your number," Delilah said, pulling out her cell. "So we can collaborate on getting a show on."
"Yeah, yeah, sure." Mercy pulled out her flip phone.
Delilah stared at it. "Does that antique still work?"
Lucifer laughed as Mercy rolled her eyes.
"Maybe I like taking twenty minutes to send one text," Mercy said.
After exchanging numbers, Delilah gave Mercy a quick hug before turning to Lucifer to do the same.
"Thank you," she told him.
"Of course," Lucifer replied, wrapping his arms around her.
The next few seconds seemed to burst by with nothing inside them but sheer chaos. There was the screech of tires, and then ear-shattering gunfire crackled through the air. Mercy instantly flung herself down and to the side, but something sliced through her sleeve and grazed her upper right arm. Warm blood began to seep down onto the pavement just as yet another assault on her eardrums occurred.
There was a thunderous crash and the blare of a honking horn. Mercy looked up to see a dark maroon SUV just coming to a halt after being smashed by a semi truck. There were bits of metal and plastic and glass all over the street. Then, when Mercy looked to her left, she saw Delilah laying in a bloody heap on top of Lucifer.
Neither were moving.
"Haaah..." Mercy rasped in pain and horror.
There was a sharp gasp of breath and Lucifer began to move. He carefully pushed Delilah off of him and onto the sidewalk, panting. Delilah's eyes were wide and staring as blood seeped from the bullet holes in her torso. Lucifer shook his head sorrowfully before a sudden thought seemed to seize him and he looked around wildly until he spotted Mercy.
"Are you hurt?" he asked urgently, hurrying over to her.
"J-just a graze, I think," Mercy stammered. "Oh hell, Luci, is she dead? Is Delilah dead?"
Lucifer knelt beside her and began to inspect her wounded arm. "I'm afraid so. But don't worry..."
Apparently satisfied she was all right, Lucifer stood up and began to stalk into the street toward the wreckage of the SUV.
"Lucifer!" Mercy called after him. "What if they're still alive?"
"That's what I'm counting on," Lucifer said over his shoulder.
Mercy groaned and forced herself to stand. This couldn't be happening. Had she been found already? Was it her fault Delilah was dead?
By the time Mercy reached Lucifer's side, the Devil was gripping the front of the man in the back passenger seat. There was a gun near the man's feet, and he looked like he'd suffered some severe injury from the wreck.
"Why?" Lucifer was demanding. "Why do this? Why kill Delilah? Tell me!"
The man coughed weakly. "Why else? Money."
Mercy looked carefully at the SUV, her heart pounding. She saw the driver, dead at the wheel, but no one else.
"Was it just those two?" Mercy asked. "Was there anyone else? A woman?"
"You heard the lady," Lucifer snapped.
But the man's head fell to the side and he didn't move or speak again. Mercy put her hands to her mouth and walked away, trembling. After a moment, Lucifer was at her side, his phone to his ear.
"Lux, yes, the nightclub," he said into it. He must have dialed 911. "There's been a shooting and a car wreck, it's all a mess, really. Uh, at least three dead, two injured. Thank you. Please hurry."
Mercy reached the side of the street again, not far from Delilah's body. She looked at it for a moment before shuddering and her eyes tearing up.
"Mercy?" Lucifer grabbed her arm gently. "Mercy, do you want to go inside?"
"It's my fault," Mercy breathed. "I'm the reason she's dead."
"Don't be absurd, Mercy," Lucifer said. "That man was hired to kill her, how could you possibly be to blame?"
Mercy shook her head, unable to form the words she wanted. She pushed her back against the wall and closed her eyes.
"Why did you ask about a woman?" Lucifer asked. "What's going on here, Mercy?"
Before she could answer, there was the wail of sirens approaching them. Lucifer exhaled in slight irritation and tugged Mercy gently.
"Come on, we should have that arm looked at," he said.
Mercy glanced over at her wound, which continued to slowly soak her sleeve in blood. She pushed out a tight breath and let Lucifer guide her toward the building's entrance. Others were showing up now, some from the nearby buildings, some from down the street. A couple of men in black tee shirts and pants came trotting out from Lux.
"Sir, are you all right?" one asked.
Mercy recognized them as some of the club's bouncers.
"Yes, but Mercy here has a rather nasty wound." Lucifer said. "Hospital is farther off; I'm taking her upstairs to get it cleaned and bandaged, send the officers and paramedics up, all right?"
"Of course, sir," the bouncer said.
"Shouldn't we stay down here?" Mercy rasped as Lucifer walked her inside.
"They can ask their questions upstairs," Lucifer said, stepping into the elevator while pulling his cell from his pocket and making a call. "Maze? Yes, that was gunfire. Clear the club, we're closing early tonight, considering."
A few minutes later Mercy was sitting at one of the tables in the empty club, one close to the piano. Lucifer came walking back to her with a small white kit in his hands.
"I'll admit, I'm not entirely familiar with how to mend wounds," he said.
"Did you change?" Mercy asked, noticing that he was wearing a lighter gray suit jacket and vest.
"Yes, well, bullet holes with no blood tends to get a lot of questions," Lucifer explained.
"But you don't hide the fact that you're the Devil," Mercy reminded him.
"No, but it's just annoying trying to explain things sometimes," Lucifer said, setting the kit on the table and popping it open. "Even if I say, 'I'm the Devil,' you'd be surprised how little people take that as an acceptable answer."
Lucifer looked from the kit to Mercy's arm. She was wearing a long sleeve shirt, one of her favorites, sadly. It was blue with a white sparrow in flight on the front.
"I think I have to cut off the sleeve," Lucifer said, peering at the tear in the fabric.
"Ah ha, no, no, no," Mercy said as he pulled a pair of scissors from the kit.
"No?" Lucifer frowned.
"You're not poking around my open wound with scissors to cut off my sleeve after you just admitted to not knowing how to mend wounds," Mercy told him.
Lucifer huffed irritably. "I'm not going to hurt you. I'm quite delicate when I want to be. Comes in handy in so many ways."
"Oh my hell," Mercy breathed.
Lucifer blinked at her. "Hell?"
"Oh. Yeah. Uh, raised in a lot of private schools," Mercy explained. "The whole Lord's name in vain thing is kinda engraved into my head."
"I won't complain," Lucifer said with a shrug as he made to reach for her sleeve.
Mercy winced before he even touched her and he sighed.
"It's still bleeding and we don't know when the paramedics are getting here," Lucifer said. "Trust me."
Mercy took a deep breath, eyed him for a moment longer before giving him a small nod.
Lucifer gingerly gripped her sleeve and pulled it up from her skin. The blood that had glued it to her flesh pulled painfully and Mercy gasped. Lucifer stopped, peering at her questioningly.
"It's fine," Mercy assured. "Just get on with it."
Smiling briefly, Lucifer returned his attention to the sleeve. He slowly put the scissors through the tear the bullet hat made and delicately cut the fabric. With a few swift and precise snips, the sleeve was suddenly free from her shoulder. Lucifer tugged it off her arm and put it on the table. Nearly the whole thing was dyed a deep maroon.
"There, see?" Lucifer grinned at her.
Mercy looked over a the wound. It wasn't as deep as she thought; at least she wouldn't need stitches. Lucifer began to pull out bandages and when he unraveled a roll of gauze, Mercy shook her head at him.
"It has to be cleaned," she murmured.
"Oh, right, infection," Lucifer said, putting the gauze aside. "You humans are so fragile... like a house of cards..."
He pulled out a small water bottle and a white rag. With surprising delicacy, he put some water on the rag and began to wipe away the caked blood. Mercy winced a few times as it pulled at the gash, but motioned for Lucifer to keep going.
Mercy's mind was numb. She'd spent so much time and effort in keeping hidden. Was it the band? Had it gotten so popular that somehow, somewhere, that witch of a woman saw it and recognized her? Had all of Conor's efforts been for naught?
"Y-you said that man was hired to kill Delilah," Mercy whispered. "How do you know?"
"He told me," Lucifer said. "You heard him. I asked why he killed Delilah, he said for money."
"But how... how do you know he was talking about Delilah?" Mercy asked.
Lucifer paused washing her arm and looked up into her eyes. "He would have corrected me otherwise. His will was rather pliable compared to most. He answered the question directly."
"You're certain he..." Mercy closed her eyes and took another breath.
Could it be just a coincidence? Was the man really only after Delilah?
"I'm positive," Lucifer said firmly. He started washing her arm again. "Mercy... why would you think someone wants to kill you?"
Before she could reply, the elevator doors open and an attractive woman walked into the club. She had long honey-blonde hair tied back from her face and wore dark pants with a black shirt and jacket. At her hip was a golden badge and near it was a gun holster equipped with a pistol.
She looked around before spotting Lucifer and Mercy and strode purposefully toward them.
"You two are the witnesses?" she asked, pulling out a small notepad from a back pocket.
"Yes," Lucifer answered, looking up at her curiously before continuing to clean Mercy's arm.
"I'm Detective Chloe Decker," the woman introduced. She spotted Mercy's wound for the first time when she walked around the back of the high-backed bench they sat in. "Are you all right?" she asked, eyes widening slightly.
"I-I think so. It j-just grazed me," Mercy stammered. How was she supposed to answer this cop's questions? She supposed she could just go with whatever Lucifer said.
"We have paramedics on the way," Chloe said.
"I think I've actually got it," Lucifer said, sounding a bit surprised with himself. "Clean, disinfect, bandage, yeah?"
"I think it's her choice," Chloe said, shooting Lucifer a slightly irate look.
"Uh, well, let's see how far he's gotten when they get here," Mercy said.
Chloe glanced between the two of them before pulling out a pen and flipping open her notepad. "Do you two mind if I ask you a few questions?"
"We're all ears, Detective," Lucifer said, casting her a smile.
"Can I get your names?" Chloe said.
"Mercy Townsend is this lovely young lady," Lucifer introduced. "And I'm Lucifer Morningstar."
Chloe blinked. "Lucifer Morningstar? What is that, a stage name or something?"
"Mercy's the performer, actually," Lucifer said. "As for me, the name's God-given, I'm afraid."
The same thing he said to Mercy the first time she asked about it.
Chloe frowned at her notepad for a moment longer before shaking her head and writing down the names. Lucifer put the now bloodied rag on the table and got a clean one. He'd gotten all the blood away from the wound, and it seemed to be slowing in its bleeding. He grabbed the bottle of rubbing alcohol out of the kit and Mercy pressed her lips into a tight line.
"That's gonna hurt like a bitch, isn't it?" she said.
"I dunno, is it?" Lucifer poured some of the bottle's contents on the rag. "You'll have to tell me."
Chloe frowned and put her notepad on the table. "I'm a certified first responder, how about you let me do that part."
Lucifer looked between Chloe and Mercy. "What's the difference going to be?"
Chloe snatched the rag out of his hand and gestured for Mercy to scoot over. Mercy shrugged weakly at Lucifer before obliging the Detective. Chloe sat down beside Mercy and began to gently dab the rag on the wound.
Mercy gaze out a hiss of pain through clenched teeth and flinched. Chloe patted her shoulder as she continued to dab.
"I know, it stings," she said soothingly. "Just a bit more."
Mercy cast her a grateful glance. Chloe was like a nurturing mother with how careful she was. After a few more painful seconds, the Detective put the cloth aside and grabbed a few adhesive strips from the kit. She gingerly put three across the gash, helping it keep closed. Then, Chloe put a large bandage over the whole thing before carefully wrapping it in the gauze.
"If it starts bleeding again or anything, you should have a doctor look at it," Chloe said. "But I think it should be fine."
"Thanks," Mercy said.
Chloe nodded and got back to her feet. Lucifer had gone over to the piano and watched while plinking a few random notes.
"Good to know for future reference," he said, gesturing to Mercy's bandaged arm.
"You're not planning on you two getting shot at again, are you?" Chloe asked as she pulled out her notepad again.
"Well, no, of course not," Lucifer said. "But as I was telling Mercy shortly before you arrived, you humans are just so fragile."
"And what planet are you from, London?" Chloe replied in a clipped tone.
Lucifer snorted but then he frowned at her and leaned forward. "You look familiar. Have we met?"
"No," Chloe said. "Now, Mr. Morningstar, what was your relationship to the victim?"
"Delilah? She was my friend," Lucifer said. He peered closer at Chloe. "Are you quite sure we've never met? I distinctly recall seeing you naked. Have we had sex?"
Chloe looked up from her notepad with a murderous expression. She looked over at Mercy and asked, "Is he always like this?"
"From what I've seen, yeah," Mercy replied honestly.
"What?" Lucifer frowned at both of them.
"Mr. Morningstar, would you care to enlighten me how one woman was gunned down and another injured, but you didn't get a scratch?" Chloe asked.
"Well, being immortal has its advantages," Lucifer replied.
Mercy's eyes widened. What was the point in changing clothes if he was going to say something like that?
"Right..." Chloe frowned at him.
"Now, what about you?" Lucifer asked. "Are you and your corrupt organization going to find her killer and punish him properly?"
"Her killer is dead," Chloe said.
"Sure, the man who pulled the trigger," Lucifer said, swiveling on the piano bench to face Chloe fully. "But not the one who ordered her death."
"How do you know someone ordered her death?" Chloe demanded.
"Because that shooter told me," Lucifer replied.
"He told you?" Chloe perked a brow. "He died from internal injuries."
"His soul hadn't crossed the threshold yet," Lucifer explained.
"He did say something about doing it for money," Mercy said. "I heard it."
Chloe furrowed her brow and frowned down at her notepad before scribbling in it.
"So, you'll look into it?" Lucifer pressed.
"I've made note of it," Chloe said. "Listen, we might need more from both of you, so stay in town. I'll send another officer up to get your recollection of the event itself."
"Thanks again for the... the bandaging," Mercy said as she headed for the elevator.
Chloe looked back at her and offered a small smile. "I hope it mends quickly."
