Chapter 12

Angela knew that it was inevitable that she would meet with Lucifer in the flesh again. As much as she protested against it, she knew she had a role to play in this Apocalypse and part of that involved coming toe to toe with the devil himself. Like Dean, she knew that they were far from ready with this but there was little to do when forces ended up forcing your hand to the thing that you ended up dreading because you knew that it must be done.

She stood there looking at Lucifer as he walked into the ballroom with blood over him. She didn't have to ask; she knew whose blood it was by the smell. She pursed her lips as she stared at the devil as he walked into the room, noting the fact that his power was tearing apart his vessel. She remembered when Gabriel taught her that about angels when he took it upon himself to teach her everything about them.

Lucifer walked in and looked at the party gathered in the room. He gave a slight smile. "Sam. Dean. Good to see you again." He them looked at Angela and the smile changed to a bigger one. "And definitely good to see you again my lovely."

"I am not your lovely," Angela replied in a low tone.

"Of course you are. You have always been my favorite since I learned of your existence." Lucifer rolled his eyes and then said, "And I'm sure you made sure to make things difficult, right Morrighan?" He glanced over at the goddess who was drinking champagne like it was nothing.

"Oh don't look at me. I warned you all what would happen when she walked into the room," Morrighan piped up, not bothering to get to her feet. If she had to move, she would.

"Oh please," Baldur muttered more in anger as he started to advance towards Lucifer.

"Baldur, don't," Kali and Angela said at the same time.

Baldur wasn't listening. His eyes were on Lucifer and he was tired. He was tired of the problems the angels have caused and he wasn't going to take it lying down. "You think you own the planet?"

Lucifer didn't respond to that but rather give a bland expression mingled with a don't care attitude. He wasn't interested in their petty squabbles. As far as he was concerned if they interfered with what must happened, then they deserved to die. Of course his pretty would be around and it would only serve to remind her of the inevitable.

Baldur wasn't satisfied with Lucifer's response. He was not going to take this lying down. He would kill that bastard. He started forward, "What gives you the right?"

"Baldur," Angela started forward.

It was too late as Lucifer rammed his hand through Baldur's torso. It had those watching jump slightly as Lucifer held Baldur by holding his arm through his body. He took in the sound of the god burbling as he replied, "No one gives us the right. We take it." He then pulled out his hand and dropped the body on the ground.

Angela took a couple of deep breaths as she watched the scene. She opened her mouth slightly and said, "Lucifer. Stop. Please."

"I don't think so," Lucifer replied nonchalantly. He glanced at the three puppies that were growling at him but they hadn't made a move. "And I think they are a little too young for this." He held his hand up, his intention clear.

"Don't," Angela countered as she moved into position to remove her blade. She made a sound in her throat to warn the puppies to stay back. She stared at him with a determined look.

"Impressive," Lucifer replied watching the puppies. "Seems your time in hell really did something to you."

Angela said nothing but held her hand out to warn the others back. Kali though wasn't going to listen. The goddess summoned her powers, the flames growing from her fists and crawling up her arms. Angela recognized that tactic and said, "Sam, Dean… take cover."

The Winchesters didn't need to hear it twice as they moved to take cover behind the tables in the room. It was a good thing since Kali unleashed her flames at the angel. Angela took a deep breath as the flames hit Lucifer and flared outward. She brought her arms up and crossed them at the wrists and gritted her teeth.

In the meantime, Sam and Dean had sought cover and the dogs huddled with them. But they were one member short. Sam noticed it immediately and started to get out from hiding. "Angie."

"Sam, don't," Dean gritted out as he grabbed his brother and held him in place. It was a good thing too since the flames flared just then and scorched the top of the table that they were hiding behind.

When it stopped Dean, released Sam to allow him to peek over the edge of the table. What he saw filled him with bewilderment and relief. He saw Angela standing in a hunched position but there was like some sort of weird glow. He couldn't tell exactly but it had been effective in protecting her from Kali's flame. And it certainly had Kali looking at her like she couldn't believe she could do… whatever it was she had done. Sam couldn't keep his eyes off the scene as Angela straightened up and looked around and merely commented, "Whoa. It really did work."

It was followed with Angela removing her sweater since it was smoldering and it was a slight wave of déjà vu for Sam since he recalled the last time Angela removed a shirt because it was on fire. She did complain that it was her favorite though Sam doubted it since she had just bought it. Then again she always said something more to be either funny or just because.

It certainly wasn't a funny situation when Kali went to go in for a punch, her arms covered in flames. Sam heard Angela call out, "Don't Kali!"

There was a loud smack and Kali was down but it was enough and Sam hunkered back down to give Dean a report. "Not looking good. You okay?"

"Yeah. Angie?"

"Um…"

"Busy from the looks of it and no, I'm not really okay," Gabriel's voice entered. He got a slight satisfaction that he managed to get another one up on the Winchesters. Actually it was an old game he used to play with his Cat. When she was younger, he would pop up and startle her. It was more of teaching her how to use her abilities to do the same. It was why she was so good. And she made it sexy.

Looking at the Winchesters he gave a slight saddened shrug, "Better late than never, huh? And it's not like I'm gonna let Cat be completely helpless though she really doesn't need my help."

Dean was rather glad that the angel decided to grow a pair. He knew that even though he cared about the other gods, Angela was the driving force behind Gabriel's actions. He had noticed it when they were sucked into TV land; how the angel never put her in any real danger and how he got protective over her. It was kind of like watching Sam but different. It was what he would do for his little brother. He gave a slight nod of agreement in Gabriel's direction only to have a DVD case being shoved into his hand. He looked at the archangel with a frown as the most serious expression ever came across Gabriel's face.

"Guard this with your life." Gabriel gave a brief look at Dean but turned his attention towards Sam. There was a lot he wanted to say to the younger Winchester and he was glad that his advice was taken when it was. Things would be okay. "And keep her out of trouble, Sam."

Before either Winchester could say anything, Gabriel was gone. Dean looked at Sam and then at the DVD that he had been made to hold. He blinked when he saw the title. Normally, he would have made a joke about it but now was not the time or the place. But he certainly was going to have something to say later.

Sam, for his part, blinked at what Gabriel told him. For the most part, it was what he and Dean did trying to keep out of trouble and to keep Angela from getting into trouble. That was like an everyday thing for them. Yet in this case, there was something different about the way the angel said it and it was enough to have him pause to think about it.

Neither brother had much time to think about anything since there was a loud crash as something fell into the other table. They glanced over and saw that it was Angela. From the looks of things, Lucifer had grabbed her or punched her with enough force to send her flying. Both were willing to bet that it was a punch since Angela was grimacing slightly as she tried to find her bearings.

"Oye now, do ya really want to be getting that much dirty, Luci?"

The Winchesters looked at each other as they heard Morrighan's voice enter. They had completely forgotten that she had still been in the room. She had been off to the side and enjoying what was left of the alcohol. It was a relief that she wasn't siding against him but it was not a relief that she just seemed to watch and not take interest except to cat call when she decided to entertain herself. She certainly had done that enough to Kali and Baldur and a few other gods. Now she was doing it to Lucifer.

"Morrighan… how nice of you to drop in," Lucifer's voice rang out. "I've been wondering when you would come out of hiding just to make a point."

"Oh I have a point but it's not like you listen."

The Winchesters looked at each other in alarm. From their view, Morrighan was the crazy one poking and being generally annoying by pointing out flaws and weaknesses in a way to make someone want to exercise their wrath. No doubt the goddess heard the screams and saw what Lucifer did to Baldur. And yet here she was, not afraid or doing a good job of not showing it and mouthing off to Lucifer. And where was Gabriel in all of this?

"And it's so like you to just sit and watch."

"Ya know me well. I am pretty neutral in most things and I am an advocate for justice."

"And you're just gonna let me kill a fellow pagan?"

"I'm just watching justice and what has been scene play its course."

"Then be prepared for things to get messy."

Angela had her moments of when she wasn't sure of what to do. She could name them and she could tell the story of what she called a fluke or sheer dumb luck. This time, it was more instinct and sudden clarity of another time she was faced in a situation of fighting fire. And not so surprisingly it had to do with Lord Shiva and his personal special training with her.

Even though she had trouble with the Mendi previously, she knew her path and now she felt grounded when she brought her hands up and focused her energy. It was a technique that only Lord Shiva had mastered and taught to very few. He taught his sons certainly and his beloved wife knew a little but none of his other guard had been taught like she had on this technique. She had questioned him the why and his answer confounded her and to this day it still did but it proved itself handy as she used it to protect herself from Kali's flames of wrath.

It ended up with a scorched sweater and the result of having it removed. She even told Kali in an exasperated tone, "That was my favorite."

Lucifer though, was amused by the whole thing. He gave that bland smile that was enough to chill the spine as he replied, "Impressive, my pretty."

"Stop calling me that," Angela replied, "I'm not your pretty."

"Really? You want to argue that point?"

Angela knew what the fallen angel was getting at and didn't give him the satisfaction of a response. Rather she narrowed her eyes and maneuvered her hands into a basic fighting stance. The result had him laugh at her since it was very clear that she was going to fight the devil hand to hand and she quite possibly didn't have any line of defense should he decided to use his angelic powers like making her explode like chunky soup.

Lucifer was amused at the little dhampir in front of him. He didn't care so much about Kali but Angela amused him and it made him all the more eager to finally get his hands on her. After all she still harbored the idea that she could be his vessel and fight Michael and technically she could since her blood could house either or.

Watching her he sighed, "You really want to use your fists?"

"You know me. I like a good fight," Angela admitted as she grinned through her look of determination. She backed up and was prepared to move, but Kali beat her to it. "Kali."

Kali couldn't believe that her flames did nothing to Lucifer. She was even more shocked to see what Angela had done to protect herself. It had her surprised and wondering what it was she had been dealing with. It was over the moment Angela started joking and she turned towards Lucifer to finish this fight. She moved forward to punch the angel only to get a punch to the face and she landed on the ground.

Angela's reaction was instant. The moment Kali was down, she moved forward and gave a shoulder tackle to the fallen angel. It was clear that he didn't expect that and he staggered backwards looking at her in annoyance and shock. His features then turned into a scowl as he took a swing at her and the fight was on.

Lucifer hadn't expected the body tackle. Mostly he didn't expect the force behind it and staggered back. He looked at Angela, not sure of what just happened but it made him angry. He wasn't going to be denied his fun even if it was smearing pagan blood on the walls. So he countered with a punch of his own and she blocked.

This went on until he got in a lucky shot and sent Angela flying into one of the tables in the room. Actually, she hit the top and rolled off it and hit the ground amidst the shattering of glass. He smirked a little at that, pleased that he had taught her a lesson. It didn't mean that she was going to stay down for the count. Her kind didn't do that but it would allow him to at least have his fun with the dark goddess. After all, she was only a pagan.

"Oye now, do ya really want to be getting that much dirty, Luci?"

Lucifer paused and smirked as he hummed a sound. He recognized that voice anywhere. He turned in the direction it had come from and replied, "Morrighan… how nice of you to drop in. I've been wondering when you would come out of hiding just to make a point."

Morrighan grinned as she finished the last of the champagne she had been drinking before getting to her feet and replied, "Oh I have a point but it's not like you listen." She pointed at the fallen angel as she took a couple of steps forward.

"And it's so like you to just sit and watch." Lucifer narrowed his eyes at the goddess. As much as he would like to turn her into paste, he didn't. She was a force to be reckoned with.

"Ya know me well. I am pretty neutral in most things and I am an advocate for justice." Morrighan lifted her arms like it was nothing and almost taunted the fallen angel. "I just watch and observe."

Lucifer raised his brow at that. He knew the goddess and it had been a sort of relief when she would pay a visit down to the pit but there was something about her that… "And you're just gonna let me kill a fellow pagan?"

Morrighan walked over to the table and picked up another bottle of champagne. It was weak stuff but it was alcohol and she did need one. It was just going to take enough to feed a huge wedding reception to get her slightly buzzed but it did give a pleasant edge. "I'm just watching justice and what has been scene play its course." She leaned against the table and took a swig from the bottle. She paused and looked at Kali who was still on the ground. "And it's not like me and that broad are friends. Hell she didn't even invite me."

That remark had Lucifer chuckle a little. It affirmed his notion that pagans were petty things. He wouldn't say that Morrighan's face though and he definitely wouldn't say it to the face of Laharet's descendant. That was just asking for trouble and while he courted it like he did willful defiance, he wasn't stupid about it. "Then be prepared for things to get messy."

Morrighan smirked and giggled at that, "Oye and show me your strength. Typical. Already saw the mess in the hall."

"Then you won't mind a little more," Lucifer countered.

"We'll see."

Lucifer looked at Morrighan with a firm look and strode up towards Kali who was still on the ground and trying to recover from the blow. He looked down at the dark goddess and made a face as he brought up his foot. His intention was clear and that was to stomp on her neck and break it and maybe crush a few other things on the side. Either way, the goddess was going to die and it was clear that Morrighan wasn't going to help. He was going to enjoy this.

Lucifer wasn't going to enjoy it though as he was suddenly throw off his feet. He collided with the ballroom doors and hit the wall where he collapsed to the ground. That was a powerful punch and he groaned as he struggled to get to his feet. Whoever did that was going to pay. He was really sorry that he was really going to have to hurt his little pretty for that but now she made him mad. When Lucifer stood up and turned to see his adversary, he was met by a surprise.

Standing there were not one, but two individuals. One was his little pretty. She had her hands up and poised. He could see the light glowing from her hands and he could see the outline of her tattoos glowing. Or was that the writings of a technique he had seen before? She stood there with her hands poised for attack as she glared at him.

The other presence was someone he had thought was long gone and one the he least expected to stand next to his pretty. It was none other than Gabriel and he was ready to fight with his angel blade drawn. There was that look that said he was ready for battle as he said, "Luci, I'm home."

Lucifer didn't really want to get into a fight but there was nothing to stop him if he so chose. He started forward and was met with a slight pressure pulse against his body while Gabriel held up his blade in a warning and said, "Not this time."

Lucifer stood back. The pulse wasn't dissipating but maintained a constant. He watched Gabriel as he moved to help Kali to her feet. The pulse wasn't coming from him. That only left… his gaze shifted towards Angela who was still standing there in the same stance. Her eyes were narrowed in a glare as she covered Gabriel. So it was coming from her? The thought had him almost want to chuckle in glee. It was something he didn't expect of her. Just what tricks did his little pretty have up her sleeves?

"Oh now that was something," Morrighan shouted while giggling. She raised her bottle as she sat on the table and swung her legs like she was a child. "Very impressive."

Lucifer shot a deadpan look at Morrighan and started to raise his hand in her direction. He was stopped when a butter knife flew in his direction and buried itself into the wall behind him. He turned to look at it still quivering from the impact and then turned back to look at Angela. She was still in the same posture, like she hadn't moved at all. It was a testament to her abilities. She only said, "Next time I won't miss."

Lucifer smirked at her as he turned towards her. "I thought it was you. Saving annoying wretches called pagans?"

"I like to play fair." Angela looked at Lucifer with narrowed eyes as she held her posture. She covered Gabriel as he pulled Kali to her feet.

Lucifer scoffed at that as Gabriel eyed his brother warily. Gabriel knew that his Cat had his back and knew that it was her that decided to give Lucifer a shove. He just didn't expect her to use certain talents that he didn't even know she was capable of using. If anything the whole look she was doing with the glowing hands was worthy of one of those graphic novels. It was no wonder people liked Shadow Chasers; she made it look good.

At the moment, getting Kali to safety was the issue. Gabriel knew that he had the advantage right now. He called to the Winchesters, "Guys, get her out of here."

The Winchesters were quick to respond. Like Gabriel, they knew that the situation was critical and they had to get out while they could. So they followed the archangel's lead and grabbed Kali and headed towards the exit. Gabriel covered them with his blade up while Angela maneuvered with them while keeping her attack primed just in case.

"Over a girl. Gabriel, really?" Lucifer scoffed at the whole thing. He wasn't going to try anything since he was wary of what Angela was capable of doing and it looked like she wouldn't hesitate. He did turn so he could look his brother in the face and then at the door where Sam paused and looked back.

"Just go, Sam," Angela said, without looking. "It'll be okay."

The Winchesters left without a word and Lucifer watched with a look of impressed amusement. He nodded, "Interesting. Then again you always had a way with people, my little pretty. And with my vessel too."

"More like I have their trust."

"Really," Lucifer mocked before turning back to Gabriel. He looked at his younger brother as the angel maintained an aggressive stance. He stood there looking at the pair of them in amusement for some time before continuing, "And you Gabriel. I mean, I knew you were slumming but… I hope you didn't catch anything." He made a face at the idea that his younger brother may have caught something and from a pagan no less. "Seemed to have made it easier for you to find my little pretty here."

"Don't…"

"Don't call her that," Gabriel muttered through gritted teeth. He had a hard time hearing it earlier and he didn't know how his Cat could stand it. Or at least control it enough to not react and cause a problem.

"Oh another conquest?"

"Shut your mouth." Gabriel glared at his brother even though he was virtually shaking where he stood. "You know better than to disrespect her."

"You're right. I'm sorry." Actually Lucifer wasn't but this was Gabriel. His little brother had a way of picking them in terms of getting close and gaining trust. "Can we at least talk this out?"

Gabriel stared at Lucifer. He knew that this was not going to end well one way or another. Yet, this was a way out. But not for him. He could do one last thing and he wasn't looking forward to it since it would probably earn a grudge or an ass kicking or both. But it was his job.

"As long as you behave and I'll make sure you behave," Angela muttered. She hadn't dropped her position and wasn't going to unless she had to.

"No," Gabriel said. "Stand down, Cat."

Lucifer raised his brow at that. He hadn't heard that name before. What was equally stunning was that Gabriel was willing to walk to him. He looked over at Angela who was looking surprised and she reluctantly released her power and protested, "What…?"

"You're not going to be here," Gabriel interrupted as he looked at her. He kept an eye on Lucifer along with his blade to make sure he didn't try anything. He looked at her and raised his free hand and apologized, "I'm sorry about this."

"No," Angela protested once she realized what Gabriel was going to do.

"Remember what I told you. You know how to find them. Focus." Gabriel gave a slight smirk as he snapped his fingers and she was gone. He didn't know how far the Winchesters got but he had some confidence that she would find them or the other way around. And he knew Sam would be like a damn bloodhound with it. He looked at Lucifer and sighed, "Lucifer, you're my brother and I love you."

A/N: Luci's here and Gabriel steps up to the plate. Looks like things are going to get rough. Stay tuned for next time on Twilight of the Gods...