A/N: Hope you're enjoying it so far. Italics will show dialogue through the looking-glass, you'll see (hopefullt it'll make sense).
Some curses in this chapter, bad words not magical spells.
Chloe couldn't sit idly by while she waited for Maria to get back to her. So, she decided to try and do some research herself. None of it was helpful. She found religious zealots who tried to sew fear about an angel they didn't know. And there were satanic fanatics who tried to sew fear about a devil they didn't know. It was beyond moot for her to search this way, it was frustrating. She was a detective, she was supposed to be able to, you know, detect these things. But she worked alongside Lucifer for years, and despite literally telling her the truth every time, she didn't believe.
Chloe was getting upset at herself. She felt powerless and angry - angry for wasting years.
Maze walked over to the coffee table where Chloe had been pouring over pages printed from the internet. She brought Chloe a smoothie from the kitchen. It was super thick and a shade of mauve that wasn't exactly appetizing.
"Uh, thanks," Chloe said skeptically.
"No problem," Maze said cheerfully.
"So, what's in it?"
"It's got strawberries and blueberries for vitamin C and antioxidants. It's got spinach for iron. And steak for protein."
"You put a cooked steak into a smoothie?"
"No, of course not." Chloe relaxed a bit. Maze continued, "it's raw."
"I didn't think I had steak in the fridge," Chloe commented, as she moved the smoothie far away from her on the table top. "Why are you doing this, Maze?"
"Because Maria said you needed to get your vitamins."
"I don't think she was serious. I think because she's la curandera she just wants people to be healthy. Like when your dentist tells you to floss."
"Chloe, two things: A) it is exactly like when your dentist tells you to floss. And 2) when dentists tell you to floss it's because they want you to floss! She wanted you to take vitamins, it's not some regional colloquialism."
"Colloquialism? Really?" Chloe was impressed by the $2 word.
"Hey, I've been reading, okay. Don't distract me. You need to be ready when this happens, and it means you need to be healthy."
"What? What do you know? Why haven't you told me?"
"I don't know anything for certain. But, based on my internet searches of religious texts, supernatural theory, and royal traditions; and flirting with a priest or three, I've got some semblance of what you're going to have to do, to bring Lucifer back, and keep demons in Hell, permanently."
"What is it? What I am, a human, supposed to do that can fix all of this? I can't battle demons and I don't have any magic powers."
"It's precisely because you're a human that you're the one to do this. And because it is not "fixing things." Things fixed means Lucifer in Hell - it's how his Father decided things would be. Now, you are essential in making sure Lucifer can leave Hell. God made you special. When you're with Lucifer he is mortal and vulnerable. It seems God may have been playing the long-con on this one."
"I'm fairly sure describing God's plans as a long-con is blasphemy."
"What's he going to do send me to hell? Been there, done that. I didn't get a t-shirt though," Maze mused.
Lucifer watched with bated breath. He had spent the days since Maria's visit to Chloe, doing his own research, but didn't come up with much. For the most part, the priest's in Hell weren't the scholarly types. And when he wasn't doing his own investigation, he was watching Chloe in his supernatural window. Listening now, to find out that Maze might know the answer, he kicked himself for staying solely with Chloe, and not "changing channels" to follow Maze, too. Lucifer continued to watch these two females lay out the plan.
All kings need to cement their authority and claim to the throne by giving the kingdom an heir. Chloe, when you are around Lucifer you make him human, so that you can sire an heir to the throne of Hell. You were made to be the King of Hell's royal consort, Queen of Hell, and mother to the heir to the throne.
If Lucifer had a real mirror in his hands, instead of this magic mirror, he would have known that the look of his face was quite similar to Chloe's. A face that shared mixed emotions - shock, confusion, alarm - just to name a few.
Lucifer was nauseous. Would he like to have a child with Chloe? Someday, sure. But not one whose destiny is to spend their eternity in Hell.
So, the child that Lucifer and I have, will spend their existence in Hell?
"One the same page, as usual. Thank you, Detective! See, this is just another reason that I love you." Lucifer was talking at the piece of glass again. But from the height of his throne, there was no one around to be concerned for his ramblings.
No, Chloe. Lucifer is still immortal. Your child wouldn't have to accend to the throne, like ever. But by creating a flesh and blood heir, Dromos, Squee, and the other idiots of that demon hoard wouldn't be able to pull the same stunt. By having a legitimate heir, they would never be able to claim another.
Both Chloe and Lucifer saw the sense in this. There was only one thing in the way.
"But I'm in Hell, and she's on Earth."
But he's in Hell and I'm on Earth, Chloe told Maze.
Maze went on to say, that's what Maria and los curandeos are trying to figure out: How can they get you two in the same place? Because those opportunistic little shit demons will take any chance given to them, regardless of how small.
Lucifer was now concerned, worried about being with his future bride and mother to his yet-conceived child, it was the first time in his very long life that he was nervous about having sex.
