Sorry for the delay guys. Hope you enjoy it anyway.

Chap 9

They all piled into the impala, which was mercifully big enough to give everybody room to breath; in a compact car, Molly would probably have ended up squashed between Harry and Sanya.

After dropping the knight and apprentice wizard back at the church, and being assured by Murphy that everyone was fine and Dresden could go earn some money to pay his phone bill, Dean drove them to Harry's office, getting them there only seven minutes late.

"That is the most terrifying ride I have ever had, and I've ridden with Murphy," were the wizard's parting words as he went racing down the sidewalk.

"So," Dean started as he found a parking spot. He'd agreed to wait for Harry and give him a ride back. It would give Sam and him time to talk. "Anything you want to tell me?"

***

Harry took the steps two at the time. The elevator hadn't worked since an incident involving a police woman, a wizard and a giant scorpion, or so the rumour had it.

When he got to his office, his client was waiting by the door. Everything about the man was designer, from the white leather shoes, the kind you need ten identical pairs of so you can change them when they get dirty, to the artfully mussed hair with honest to goodness gold leaf at the tips. Harry immediately despised him. Anyone who has ever not been sure they would be able to make the next month's rent knows there is something deeply wrong about a thousand dollar pair of sunglasses.

The man, if he was even out of his teens yet, was nearly as tall as Harry and almost thin enough to be called willowy. He glanced significantly at his, Harry did a double take, Louis Moinet watch.

"Traffic," mumbled the wizard, unlocking the door. He led the other man to his desk and offered him a seat.

"What can I do for you, Mister…?" Even as he extended a hand, Harry got a niggling feeling at the back of his scull. Something was wrong with this picture. He always took a client's name when he made an appointment, and what had possessed him to set up a meeting at this hour of night? Come to think of it, he didn't remember making this appointment at all.

The wizard's fingers turned to icicles in the other man's grip. "Morning Star," said the other man, his voice velvety soft, "Call me Lucifer."

As soon as he could, Harry yanked his hand back, flexing his fingers to get feeling back into them. He made to take a step around the desk, but his guest had other things in mind.

"Sit," ordered Lucifer. Harry sat.

"What do you want?"

"Me? I want a great many things, a new job for one, but for now, I'll settle for a chat. A civil chat," he added when Harry started reaching for his magic. "Not that you can take me. I'm the ruler of a realm of the Nevernever, remember. My father didn't just banish me to Hell, he put me in charge. That's the kicker, isn't it? I get banished for a little head butting but you, even the worst, the unforgivable among you get the attention of an archangel for all eternity. I would have done things differently." He sighed.

"You're trying to take over again," said Harry, putting as much menace in his voice as he could, which turned out not to be much. As a rule, Harry didn't like bullies and would mouth off to just about anyone he perceived as one, but in the face of the great destroyer, his mind went completely blank of smartass comments. Where was Dean when he needed comedic back up?

Lucifer's laughter was light and melodic. "I learned my lesson the first time. Never bring angelic power to an omnipotence fight. But this is not what I came here to discus."

"What then, and why me?"

"Simple, of those at the meeting, I thought you most likely to heed Lady Winter's warning and not try to kill me. I find it more productive to speak to someone whose mind is not completely occupied with plotting my demise.

"Now, my heavenly brethren have got it in their heads that riding the world of evil is a good idea." He bent forward over the desk, lowering his voice to a dangerous growl. "If you think my father was upset with me for disagreeing with him, think how he must feel now. These empty-handed messengers are trying to rob humans of the greatest gift God gave them: free will. I am here to stop them."

"You want to save the world?" Harry deadpanned, wondering what, exactly, was wrong with his ears.

Lucifer leaned back again, picking up a brochure lying on the desk (Magic and You) and studying it absently. "What I want doesn't matter, what matters is what God wants, and what he wants, he gets, believe me, I know. All of you seem to think there are two sides with me on one and my father on the other, Hell versus Heaven. News flash, God is not sitting at this table." He threw the pamphlet away like a Frisbee; it landed on top of an old paperback Harry hadn't had a chance to finish yet. "He's the dealer standing over everything, staking the deck."

"The angels think God is gone."

"Do you not get that they're idiots. His Will imprisoned me and only His Will could free me. This brings me to my second point.

"I have a message for Samuel Winchester. I would have gone to him directly, but poor Sam is already shaky enough, I did not want to send him over the edge.

"Firstly, all that I have told you, you will relay to him. Secondly, tell him that the power I have returned to him is strictly a thank you gift and as such comes with no strings attached. Lastly, and this he should appreciate, remind him that the antichrist is not the one who heralds the end of times. That job belongs to the second coming.

"Any question?"

"Do you really expect me to believe that?"

The old Fallen Angel shrugged the young man's shoulders minutely. "I wouldn't be much of a prince of lies if you could take everything I say on faith. What I expect is for you to do as I said. Anything else on your mind?"

"What about Winter?"

Another shrug. "I don't feel any pressing need to capture their flag, but I have toyed with the idea. Perhaps I will, if for nothing else than to irritate my father. I do still owe him for kicking me out."

"What about Sam killing Vendentiel?"

"I never did like Venti, but his brothers and sisters may take offence." Lucifer rose gracefully from the chair.

"How do we send you back to Hell?" The words came out in a rush. Who knew, Lucifer had answered every other question, it was worth a try.

"Now Harry, I will be keeping some secrets. Don't forget the message." He turned away, talking over his shoulder. "And good luck with the Denarians, they are pii-iiissed." Once he was halfway out the door, he added, "You can get up now."

Harry toppled his chair trying to go after Lucifer. By the time he made it out, the devil was gone.

It had been a singularly surprising day, Harry mused as he went down the stairs, one of his friends had destroyed a supposedly immortal entity, he'd met with both the Summer and Winter Ladies, the devil himself had come calling, and yet no one had made a single threat to his life. Should that make him hopeful for what tomorrow would bring, he wondered, or worried a about a backlog of horrors?

At the car, Dean greeted him with a grin.

"Who was your client? Sam and I have it narrowed down to an old lady who lost her dog or a philandering husband who lost his wedding band at his mistress's place."

Harry folded himself into the back seat and slammed the door shut behind him. "Just drive."

For those of you who are wondering, Louis Moinet watches rank among the most expensive in the world. I'll stick with my battered Timex myself.