Chapter 9 - The surfacing of repressed memories
Unlike her boss the demon was surprisingly a quiet, well behaved, backseat driver.
They arrived at the mall that contained a drugstore. As they walked through the throngs of people Maze purred and paused in front of a shoe store. She seemed mesmerized by a pair of dark maroon boots with bone crushing heels. "I need those."
Chloe shrugged. "Well go ahead then and try them on."
Mace looked at her with speculation. "You could use some kick ass boots - whatever you are wearing looks like something an arthritic grandmother would be ashamed to leave the house in."
"Thanks." Chloe sneered. "In heels that high I'd likely trip and impale myself."
Maze looked amused. "Something a little safer then. What about those?" She jerked her head in the direction of some black mid calf boots with more moderate heels.
Chloe fell in love instantly; they would look great with skinny jeans. She gasped when she looked at the price tag.
"I think they're on sale." Maze commented
Chloe looked around. "I don't see any sales signs."
Maze licked her lips and went to talk to the sales person; she came back looking like a cat that has just licked clean a bowl of cream. "75% off - you have to buy them."
"What! Seriously?" She knew she shouldn't but at that price they were practically free. "Okay." She convinced herself.
The sales person looked rather dazed as she rang them in. Chloe had the strangest feeling Maze did something to her. She looked suspiciously at Maze who smiled and said, "You're welcome."
As they headed in the drugstore Chloe wondered if Maze could brainwash people. She grew a little worried.
"Lucifer likes the musk ones except for tropical musk," Maze suddenly offered.
"What?"
"You've been staring at the perfumes for the last three minutes."
"Oh, I was just thinking about something and I don't care what scent Lucifer likes, we are just partners," Chloe explained.
"Uh huh." Maze responded distracted by flavored condoms. "Have you ever tried the 'Hotter than the Devil' flavor?" She asked.
Chloe instantly felt herself go red. "Uh ...uh no."
Maze looked at her curiously. "Does sex make you uncomfortable? You know Lucifer is very fond of it."
She rolled her eyes. "I am aware - seems to be on his mind 24/7."
Maze laughed. "When you're in hell as long as we were and then come to earth with so many willing partners - well one has to indulge."
"Of course." Chloe smirked.
"How is Dan in bed?" Maze paused looking at her with interest.
"Fine. I mean good. I mean we're separated and haven't...uh...you know in over a year but he was good. Wait, why do want to know?"
Maze shrugged, opening her eyes wide looking innocent. "Just curious."
Chloe had a sudden urge to ask how Lucifer was in bed but she had a feeling she already knew the answer and besides this was just getting a little too uncomfortable.
"We better get this prescription filled before there's a line up." Chloe suggested.
Maze nodded, followed and pulled out her credit card.
"That was easy. Thank you for showing me." Maze smiled. Actually smiled.
"You're welcome." Chloe smiled back.
"Next time you come to Lux at night, come see me and we'll have a drink." Maze offered.
"Okay. So how are things going with Amenadiel? Lucifer mentioned you two are together?"
"We are not together. We've just had sex a couple of times." Maze stated.
"Do you want more out of the relationship?"
"Do you want more out of whatever you have with Lucifer?" Maze asked neatly diverting the topic.
Chloe laughed. "Fine, I'll stop asking questions."
"It's more of a conversation to be had over tequila shots." Maze hinted.
Chloe nodded, surprised to find herself starting to like Lucifer's demon.
"Luci?"
The devil's hand shook as he picked up first the Lily, then the vase. He trembled and threw it across the room. His breathing became rapid and labored.
Amenadiel's eyes widened as he looked down at the floor and saw the flower. A shiver crept up his spine. "No…it can't be," he gasped.
He looked at Lucifer who stared transfixed at his hand. Blood spilled from his finger dripping onto the floor. Amenadiel stared harder at the flower. Lucifer spoke in a soft monotone, "It had thorns like a rose."
He could see that Lucifer was in shock. He quietly went closer. "Brother."
Lucifer's expressionless eyes lifted from watching his blood drip onto the floor to meet his brother's eyes.
"I'm here Luci. Maze, Chloe and Linda – we're all here for you, it will be okay."
Lucifer shook his head. "Nothing will deter her. It's us she wants – especially me. She'll kill anyone in her path to get to me to exact her revenge - to torture me." He swayed.
Amenadiel released his wings and gritted his teeth as pulled out a feather. He came to Lucifer's side, taking his injured hand and wrapped the feather around it. A bright light shone from it for a few moments.
A pain shot through Amenadiel's chest. He knew something bad had happened to his brother a long time ago; he had heard different versions all of them traumatic –especially if they were done to you by someone you trusted and loved.
Amenadiel blinked rapidly, his throat swelled. She had been a non issue for a long long time - giving him time to heal-never did he think he would have to face her again. While Luci talked about their father a lot he never mentioned her, Amenadiel suspected he had suppressed the memories and perhaps even her existence - he never healed because he never dealt with it. Amenadiel thought he had been her favorite, maybe he had been but Lucifer being their father's favorite instantly made his brother her target. Only no one truly knew how far her manipulations had gone and the unspeakable damage that had been done. After the rumors started he had been furious with, hated and fully blamed his attention seeking youngest brother but he knew deep inside it had not been Lucifer's fault.
Lucifer shivered, his eyes were closed as those long suppressed memories of the horrors of what happened a long time ago washed over him.
Amenadiel wished he could forever wipe out whatever haunted his brother. He put his arms around him wanting to comfort him offer him support until the shivering subsided. But Lucifer angrily pulled away. Amenadiel grabbed him by the shoulders and shook him. "Lucifer stop it – you can't do this alone."
Lucifer laughed harshly. "Really brother? Where were you all those years when I was cast out of heaven and endured all those eons of punishment with no forgiveness in sight? Hmm? To busy trying to get into fathers good graces again to care an iota about me?"
"Lucifer…" Amenadiel could feel the anger building in his brother and he let him go.
"Where were you when she…?" he took a deep ragged breath. "And later when I was cast into hell with her?" he shivered again.
"She was locked up. She couldn't do anything down there."
"As if you'd know!" Lucifer spat his eyes glistening.
Amenadiel took a deep breath and swallowed heavily. "You're right, I don't know. I'm sorry," he said softly.
Suspicion entered the devils eyes. "Did you let her loose? You were always in her favor did she talk you into it brother…promise you everything…her love?" His voice hitched.
Amenadiel's heart ached as he whispered. "NO, of course not. Lucifer, knowing what she did how could think that?" This time he did grab his brother and wrapped him tightly in a hug.
Lucifer as if zapped of his last ounce of strength did a boneless slide to the floor bringing Amenadiel down with him.
"It's going to be all right, brother. We'll take her back." Amenadiel assured him.
"You don't know that! She'll manipulate us against each other - like she did at the end. She's powerful."
Amenadiel shook him again "Stop it, Luci! We are more powerful then we were back then. You especially - having spent all those years being the Lord of Hell. You are feared, brother."
"You forget she had spent just as many years down here."
"Locked up! Besides I'm an angel I can defeat her." Amenadiel stated.
Lucifer stared hard at him. "You have done some bad things, your purity has weakened – you are practically as fallen as I am," he added desperation heavy in his voice.
Amenadiel blinked rapidly. He knew the truth of Luci's words. He felt a painful void. He knew his father had judged his actions after he'd chosen a wrong path. He had tried on numerous occasions to contact him but his father was silent. He buried his face in Lucifer's shoulder taking a ragged breath.
Maze and Chloe entered quietly shocked by the scene in front of them.
A vase lay broken on the floor, a flower shredded and scattered. In amidst the shards sat Lucifer and Amenadiel in what appeared to be a hug.
"Did you two have a fight and are kissing and making up?" Maze asked looking fascinated.
Lucifer looked up first, his eyes glistening with unshed tears, Amenadiel pulled back, eyes wet.
Chloe gasped. "What happened?"
The two hurriedly pulled apart. Lucifer staggered to his feet and into the washroom. They could hear him retching.
Amenadiel spoke up. "He'll be okay. Just feeling a bit ill."
"Neither of you are fine." Maze snarled as she looked at the mess on the floor. She looked at the angel in horror. "This flower…."
"Appeared here this morning." Amenadiel got up wiping his eyes.
Chloe looked at Maze and was surprised to see her tremble.
"Will someone please tell me what is going on?"
"You should go. You are in danger staying here." The demon warned.
"I didn't know you cared." Chloe chimed in.
"I don't but Lucifer does."
"She needs to stay right now. Lucifer needs hers." Amenadiel said insistently.
"She weakens him." Maze said angrily.
"What?" asked Chloe.
Amenadiel shook his head. "She strengthens him in important ways. He's going to need all his strength."
Lucifer came out joking. "Well that was most unpleasant. Like turning your guts inside out. Seriously how do you humans do it? Is this what happens when you drink too much? A pathetic waste of alcohol if you ask me."
Chloe unpacked the grocery bag and pulled out the Electrolyte water. She nodded in the direction of his bedroom. "Go- lie down."
'There is much to do." he argued.
"GO!" Amenadiel ordered sternly. "You wont' be of any use to anyone in your current state."
Fury flashed in Lucifer's eyes but only for moment as Chloe put her hand on his arm. His gaze dropped to hers and softened.
"Come on." She frowned and threw a worried glance at Amenadiel and Maze not understating why the two brothers had been so upset.
Lucifer drank the water and had to admit the nausea receded a little.
He lay on his side and Chloe lay down beside him facing him.
"Feeling a bit better?"
He nodded then smiled. "How could I not - you are in my bed again."
She didn't smile back. "Lucifer, what was going on when we walked in?"
He broke eye contact. "Nothing for you to worry about, it was just a brotherly thing."
"Don't be evasive. It was more than that – you were both very upset and Maze looked terrified of that shredded flower on the floor."
He glanced at her, his dark eyes wide and haunted. He bit his lower lip.
She sighed. "Okay, I get it you have trouble talking about your feelings. Every time I try to get you to open up you shut down, change the topic or run away."
He look away again not saying anything.
She said softly. "It's okay, if you don't feel comfortable talking to me please go see Dr. Linda, she can help. "She sighed frustrated. "I am your friend Lucifer, I care a lot about you, and as I said before if you ever get to a point where you are comfortable enough – I am here for you."
He nodded looking at her with wonder again.
She reached over and took his hand. He clasped it tightly.
A/N: cookies from the dark side to all reviewers - thank you - you are amazing - there is nothing that stimulates a writer more than feedback :) Things are getting intense - next chapter Dr. Linda and Lucifer
