Beelzebean coffee shop was only around the corner from the grocery store and nearly every walk of life went in and out of its doors. Kaleb Tavor had just finished grading a seemingly endless stack of tests and was glad to get away from it. Over the years scoring mid-terms and finals had forced him to come to the same conclusion. For every student that seemed to understand and appreciate genetics, there were at least three that he felt needed to find a new major. The good doctor didn't really want to go home, but had no excuse to stay away. The best he could do was delay it by stopping off for a cup of coffee. He ordered a regular cup of the dark brewed beverage when it was his turn then gave his name. The blond barista took a white cup from the stack and promptly misspelled his moniker then began to rattle off every variation of coffee that the establishment had to offer. Kaleb stared at her in amazement. When did coffee get so complicated?

"Just coffee. Coffee flavored coffee. Strong, bitter and black . . . like my soul." He answered smartly. The girl looked confused a moment then went to get his order. As he waited, Kaleb looked around at the other customers. Most of them had their faces buried in their tablets, laptops, or phones. A couple of them were reading actual books and one or two were engaged in conversation, a rarity in these places. In a far corner he noticed the new tenant from Meridian Pointe Apartments. He had learned from the building manager that his name was Velius Haides, but that was all. He had told himself that the paper vanishing in flames trick was just that, a trick. He figured this guy was an out of work magician trying to make it in LA.

The barista suddenly returned with his order which he quickly took, only to roll his eyes as he realized that his drink had steamed milk in it. Looking back over at Velius, he froze with the cup only a few inches from his mouth. His son's apartment neighbor held his hand out just above the table and a quarter seemed to floating in the air between the table and his hand. His curiosity was once again piqued. Quietly he took out his phone and started to record what he was seeing. He was only able to record for a few moments before the man clasped the coin in his hand and greeted a pretty dark-eyes, dark-haired woman as she stepped up to his table.

Suddenly realizing that he had a reason not to go home, Kaleb sat down at a table next to the pair and began to play with his phone while he listened in. Googling magician's tricks, he found one that was similar where they did make a piece of paper vanish in a burst of flames. A clever trick, yes, but it didn't look quite the same as what he had seen this man do outside the apartment. There was definitely something about him and he wanted to know more.

"Sorry, the check-out line took forever." Ella apologized as she sat down. It was only partially the truth. For the last ten minutes she had been sitting in her car telling herself that there was nothing wrong with meeting this guy in a public place for a simple cup of coffee . . . or cappuccino . . . maybe a latte.

"Maybe the elderly bag boy took his time so he could stare at you longer." He leaned forward resting his arms on the table. "I would." Ella couldn't help being drawn to this man and yet she also couldn't help thinking he reminded her of someone.

"I should probably warn you, I have very protective brothers."

"I seriously doubt they could hold a candle to my many half-siblings. In fact, the sister I'm probably closest to was the most decorated torturer in Hell."

"Oookay." The wide-eyed forensic scientist. wasn't sure if he was trying to pull her leg or not.

Standing up he asked what he could get for her and Ella answered that an iced tea would be fine. As soon as he reached the counter the barista's eyes lit up and she began to wet her lips, play with her hair and lean in towards him. She handed him his drinks making sure to brush his hand with hers. Politely he thanked her by name then returned to his seat and handed Ella her drink.

"I think blondie likes you." She smiled knowingly.

"Of course she does, what's not to like?" He answered amply aware of his charms.

"No I think she really likes you." Ella grasped his cup and turned it so he could see that a phone number was written on the cup. Because he was half angel he had some of the same gifts and abilities his father had though to a lesser degree. One that he enjoyed was the way human women (and to his surprise homosexual men) seemed unable to resist him. He had found this to be quite advantageous when he wanted to get his own way. He hadn't tried it on Ella and he wasn't sure if he wanted to . . . at least not yet.

Remembering that she had mentioned being an LA transplant herself, he asked her where she was from. Ella had no difficulty delving to the world of Detroit Michigan. Once the capital of the automotive industry, much of it was now a desperate, poverty-stricken place where crime was rampant. In 2015 alone there was an average of 43.6 murders per hundred thousand people. She, herself, had grown up in a rough neighborhood. She had stolen cars (mostly for thrill of going fast) and excelled at picking locks (a skill she learned from her grandmother). What amazed Velius was that despite the turbulent area she grew up in, there was no hardness to her physical look or in how she viewed life. A true testament to her family. Her inspiration to leave her family behind and come out to the west coast came while watching China Town on television. The move also afforded her the opportunity to keep an eye on her brother Ricardo and his 'activities'.

Velius could only wonder what she would say if she knew the truth about his upbringing. A half-celestial being, innocent of wrong-doing yet confined to Hell as a means of protecting him. All his life he was surrounded by the most wicked of mankind and he could only watch as they were tortured endlessly. The air around him was hot and filled with ash endlessly floating about. Like Ella, it was amazing that none of his upbringing showed itself in his look or in his current view of humanity. Rather, he thrilled at the opportunity of exploring his human side and finally stretching his angelic wings.

The stories he told, while funny and entertaining, were purposely vague when it came to name and location. He wouldn't lie, but he didn't have to tell her specifics either. She seemed to enjoy the tales he told of fights between him and his brothers. Apparently they reminded her of her own. They shared stories of sneaking around behind their parents back and quietly breaking rules. Ella told him about coming to LA and how her brother totally ghosted her once she got there. Clearly her brother's behavior had hurt her. Velius assured her that he too had a sister in town, Mazie, and she had made no attempts to see him even though she knew he was there. At the question regarding what this 'Mazie' looked like, he could only answer that she didn't look anything like him. It was true enough. Mazikeen's human look favored the guise Asmodeus assumed on rare occasions. Velius, on the other hand, looked like a perfect melding of Lilith and Lucifer.

"You've come to Los Angeles and started a whole new life, so tell me, what do you desire now?" He leaned forward, his eyes locking with hers.

"I . . . I" She stammered, clearly he had her. Suddenly to his surprise she snapped out of it completely.

"I'm sorry, what was that?"

"Interesting." He said, intrigued that she had managed to catch herself.

Ella suddenly realized who he reminded her of. Velius was tremendously confident, sarcastic and a bit too honest at times. Lucifer had those same qualities in abundance. Somehow she never imagined that there were two charmingly boorish men in Los Angeles. What she couldn't quite figure out was where Velius was from. He remained vague only referring to his hometown as Hell. Unlike Lucifer, he had no real discernable accent that would help her figure it out. Ella couldn't complain though, she was having a great time talking to him. So much so that she completely forgot why she had ever had reservations about meeting him in the first place.

Their conversation was suddenly interrupted as Velius' phone suddenly buzzed. He pulled it out and glanced at it only to roll his eyes when he saw who the text was from. He could think of nothing more embarrassing then having his mom disrupt his personal life. He expressed his apologies and explained to her that his mother was checking up on him, then made a great display of turning off his phone. Ella remained undaunted and assured him she was familiar with how protective mothers could be.

"Well, my mother had to be, at least when I was young." Absently he ran his fingers along the thin silver bar that hung at his neck. "You see, Mom didn't have any parents of her own to speak of and my grandmother, on my father's side, didn't want a grandson that came from anything less than her pure stock, shall we say."

"A real blue blood I take it? Your mom was from the wrong side of the tracks and she didn't like it."

"Something like that." He gave a slight nod in agreement. "My paternal grandfather didn't care so much but he did have to live with the old bitty so he made sure we simply stayed away and out of sight."

"He paid your mother off."

"I'm not sure what she received was exactly a payoff, but I guess you could interpret it that way." Velius chuckled.

"Where was your father through all this?" She found herself feeling sorry for him even though he clearly didn't want pity.

"My dad . . ." He pictured Lucifer as he had seen him just two days ago. Standing there in his apartment, tall, well-dressed and watching him intently. "Well, he didn't know about me or any of it. Part of the deal between my mother and gramps was that dear old dad was not to know. The way I understood it, I was to remain hidden from him because if he knew, then grandma would know, and long story short, we wouldn't want to piss the old girl off." He took a sip of his iced coffee before continuing. "I guess I'm the first true mongrel."

"Yeah well, purebreds are only that way because of inbreeding. Who wants a host of genetic disorders?" Ella observed correctly.

"Well put." He had never thought of it that way, and once more displayed his bright smile.

"Have you ever seen your dad?"

"Many times and usually at a distance. I did get to talk to him once, not that we were formally introduced. Somehow the devil is never quite what we expect when we meet him face to face." He explained as he sipped his drink.

"God, you remind me of him." She said off-handedly.

"Grandson actually, but do go on."

"No, no, no." Ella laughed at what she perceived to be a jest. "No, you remind me of Lucifer." At the name Velius smile disappeared. "Not completely of course, but . . . I don't know, your sense of humor . . . some of your facial expressions . . ."

"Well, I hope you won't hold any resemblance I might have to your devilish friend against me."

"No, but I am on the list if you ever want to get into his night club." She playfully teased. She really didn't know if she was on the list or not, but she was confident that if she asked he would undoubtedly do her a favor.

"He owns a night club?" He asked. Lilith had told him many things about her five years on earth, but somehow that had been left out.

"Yeah, I've only been a few times, but it's a cool place. The last time was for girl's night out and Maze and Linda were there . . . oh and there was a woman named Lili there too. She totally got hammered and even did a pole dance. It was sad what happened to her."

"What happened to her?" Velius, curious to hear the official story.

"She was murdered by a stalker. His name was Levi Sethos, but everyone called him the Preacher-ma-a . . ." Her voice suddenly trailed off as she remembered who was sitting in front of her and what he was suspected of. He immediately knew what she was thinking and sat back in his chair. Ella hadn't told him where she worked, but her sudden reaction and the fact that she knew the devilish civilian consultant was enough to clue him in that she somehow worked for the LAPD.

"While the man may have been an abhorrent fellow and a true abomination of what a holy man should be, I assure you I did not kill him." He waited a moment, but she didn't say anything, just looked down at her cup, clearly uncomfortable. He was quite sensible of the awkwardness between them and rather than make her feel more ill at ease, he put on his coat in preparation to leave. Before he got up he leaned forward and spoke softly so no one else could hear him. "I never lie. It's a point of pride for me." He took out a napkin and wrote his number across it then handed it to her. "Here, in case you change your mind."

Ella watched him through the windows as he left the coffee shop, got on his bike and drove off. She felt so stupid right now. Just a couple of days before she had stood in the police station stating her opinion that this guy could not have done it and yet just now she couldn't help being just a little bit scared of him. When he told her that he never lied, there something about the look in his eyes that struck her as being genuinely sincere. Gently she touched the cross hanging at her neck. For we live by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7 she thought to herself. Carefully she wrote his name above the phone number he gave her then folded it and placed it in her purse.

Getting up from the table she noticed Kaleb for the first time seated at the table next to theirs. She didn't know who he was. To her he was just another stranger in a coffee shop. Still, Ella noticed his short grey hair, heart shaped face, olive skin, large brown eyes and a tall lanky frame. There was nothing in particular that made him stand out, just something about the way he looked at her. They politely nodded to each other as she passed then silently she went to her car and headed for home.

Kaleb sat there for several minutes after the pair had gone playing their conversation over and over in his head. At first glance it seemed like the usual flirtatious chitchat between two interested parties. It was the end of their talk that he found interesting. He had seen the headlines regarding the scandal and downfall of the Preacher-man, but paid little to no attention to it. He had seen it as yet another reason not to believe in God. Not that he had really needed another reason. He had given up those beliefs the moment he saw his son in the morgue. Now he suddenly wanted to read those newspapers and find out what this magical man had to do with it. After running a search on his phone he located digital copies of past newspapers and learned about the case and in particular the unknown suspect that visited Levi right before he was found dead. So engrossed was he in what he was reading that the barista had to come and ask him to leave so they could lock up for the night.

Early the next day Beelzebean reopened just in time for customers to start trickling in looking for caffeine to help them face the day. One of the first customers was a tall, well-muscled African-American man who gave all the appearance of being the same as any other human walking in and out of the establishment, but Amenadiel was not the same. He was the first born angel and Lucifer's older brother. His fine, handsome face used to possess a touch of arrogance, but since coming to earth he had been humbled repeatedly. The final blow was losing his wings with all the rest of his powers. Now all he wanted was to get them back and return to the Silver City.

He bought his coffee then drove to his office just down the hallway from Dr. Martin. Originally he used this office as a way to get close to Linda and manipulate Lucifer. Now he went there to pour over his books in hopes of finding the way back from his fallen status. So far he had found very little to encourage him. Sipping his hot coffee, he put the key into lock and opened the door. It was not unusual to get visits from Maze, Lucifer or even his mother, but he really never expected to see Lilith. There she was though, seated in his desk chair. Her long dark hair hung loose and she was dressed in jeans and a green crocheted vest that was held by two large buttons and left her mid drift exposed.

"Well, well, Amenadiel. The ever loyal son." Lilith smirked. The angel stared at his unexpected guest for a moment. "Wondering how I got in here? You left the window open a crack and I crawled in."

"Lilith."

"Oh good, you do remember me." She got up from his desk chair and casually walked over to him, smiling quite warmly. "I know I remember you."

"Then you also remember that a demon cannot beat angel." He told her putting on a show of strength.

"Go ahead, underestimate me. That'll be fun." Her hand seductively moved up his chest then began to caress his neck. "By the way, I know your little secret." Her hand closed around his throat and she lifted him off his feet and into the air. "You've been a bad boy and you've lost your powers." With a single swift move, she sent him slamming against his bookshelves. "You told Lucifer about Velius, didn't you?" She asked kneeling down next to him.

"He figured it out on his own . . . at least for the most part. I only confirmed it." He replied trying to sit up. With both hands she swiftly caught him by his shirt, picked him up and slammed him against the top of his desk holding him there.

"What's to stop my son's life being forfeit just because you broke the sacred promise?" Her eyes glowed green and became snakelike. "Perhaps that was your goal. It's not the first time you tried to kill him in a devious fashion."

"I didn't know you were pregnant at the time. Mom told me that you were influencing Lucifer and feeding his desire for rebellion. She wanted me to get you as far away from him as possible. There was to be no future interaction between the human and the divine so I had to make sure you feared us. I didn't know the whole story . . ."

"What? You mean that lying bitch of a mum didn't tell you that she was hoping I would miscarry from all the stress you were creating for me? Imagine that." She smirked as she looked at her adversary. Where was his confidant posture? His eyes didn't have that certain gleam of superiority that they normally did. Stranger still was that there was a genuine look of contrition written on his face. This was a man clearly unhappy and perhaps even tired of the position in life he had found himself in. Her eyes returned to normal and reluctantly she released him from her grasp. Slowly he got up, his back hurting from where he had hit the bookshelves and the desk. He went over and carefully began to pick up some of the books that had fallen. "You really didn't know, did you?"

"You may not think so, but I'm not a monster." He stopped what he was doing for a moment and sighed. "When I saw the baby and . . . his wings, I knew I had been lied to. I didn't say anything when you were brought before my father because I was too proud to admit the part I had played. I didn't even know that Velius had survived being sent to Hell until I saw him hiding in a fissure high above Lucifer's throne. After that I talked to Senoy and he told me about the covenant."

Lilith was surprised at this change in her adversary's attitude. Somehow she had not expected to find Amenadiel so apologetic for his actions. She had almost forgotten about that crevice in the rocks. Mazikeen used to go up there with him sometimes when she was a girl and together they would both watch the action. Maze always got a thrill out of seeing the tortures and assumed it was the same for her brother. Velius simply wanted to see his father.

"Does," He suddenly smiled in spite of himself "Does my nephew know the truth?" It was the first time he had ever said that title and he rather liked it.

"He was almost completely grown when the first of the Lilim were born. He watched Asmodeus interact with his children and I think it started him wondering about his own lineage. He asked me numerous times, but I always dodged the question. I just didn't know how to tell him the truth. One day I found him sitting quietly in that opening above Lucifer's throne quietly holding the necklace he wore. He pointed and said 'He's my father, isn't he'. At that point I could no longer sidestep the inevitable so I told him everything. He was angry for a long time after that, He was never one to deal with his emotions as a rule anyway. Instead he showed it by being blatantly defiant or at times he would simply act out. Other times he shut down all together." Amenadiel nodded. He had seen his younger brother behave in much the same way because he simply couldn't face his emotions. "Eventually he forgave me."

Neither spoke as Lilith knelt and began to help pick up books with this first of God's angels. They had spent an eternity at odds with each other and this momentary truce was awkward at best. Setting books on the shelf, the demoness quickly skimmed a couple of pages of Milton's Paradise Lost. She smirked at an artist's depiction of Lucifer with bat-like wings on his back. The human imagination was a fanciful place. Amenadiel watched her as she placed the book on the shelf with the other. He had always had a certain fascination for Lilith. How could he not? Here was a human woman who had lived in a paradise where every need or want was provided for. Why anyone would give that up for a moment's pleasure in Lucifer's arms was beyond him.

"Are you going to ask your question or just stand there staring with your mouth hanging open like a cod fish?" Lilith asked without looking up from what she was doing. Caught off guard, Amenadiel stammered for a moment before finally asking what was on his mind.

"Why did you do it?"

"I've done A LOT of things, you're really going to have to narrow that down a bit."

"Eden." He responded. "Why did you give up Eden? You had an ideal existence in that garden."

"Everyone always thinks that."

"Was Luci really worth it?"

"Have you seen him naked?" At the very mention, the angel immediately twisted his face in absolute disgust. As far as Lili was concerned she had already been too touchy feely as it was with Amenadiel. She certainly wasn't going to tell him anymore. She didn't like opening up anyway. True, she trusted Lucifer and would confide in him before anyone, but even then it was under duress. She had no intention of spilling the secrets of her heart and soul to anyone, not even him, if she could help it. "Don't try to do the whole 'feels' thing with me. You'll end up way over your head, old man." She shoved the last book into his hands then started towards the door. "By the way, should anything happen to Velius I will hold you and your precious mum personally responsible. What I can't do to her physically, I will accomplish emotionally when she finds small pieces of your body all over LA." Upon reaching the door, Lilith stopped and look back at the original angel. "Oh and speaking of small body parts. I know you have a 'thing' for Mazie. I have no doubt that she can take care of herself, but I am her mother and as such I am duty bound to play a certain role. If you hurt her in any way, I will drag you to Hell and hang you by your thumbs. Then I will give each of my offspring an aluminum bat so they can play piñata with your holey poker." She winked and then waved as she walked out the door. "Nice chatting with you! We really should do this more often."

Now that she had uncovered the guilty parties, there was only one thing left and that was to finally give the devil his due. She had been putting it off because she wasn't sure how to face him. The fallen angel had long ago mastered the art of seeing betrayal and manipulation where there was none, especially when it came to his Father. She had always been one of the very few he trusted and she was afraid of looking in to his eyes and seeing that trust gone. I hope, she thought to herself, I hope he will understand.