I do not own anything related to Lucifer, DC Comics, Vertigo, or Sandman series, either thru television, written books, or film. Everything belongs to Tom Kapinos, Fox, and mentioned above. I do own all the created characters. I do not own any songs, or literature mentioned. They are included to enhance the written words. Please read, review, and enjoy!
Chapter 20
Song(s): The World is Unraveling (MILCK), Strange Fruit (Nina Simone Blakelight Remix)
…
"ENOUGH!"
Stopping dead in her tracks as she heard Pierce's deep shout, Miriam turned and stared as she watched Lucifer turning to square off in front of the biblical murderer.
"You've been a constant thorn in my side since the beginning Cain, why my Father ever bothered to keep you insistently coming back to life is beyond me" Lucifer growled as he threw a hand out backwards towards Miriam.
"You and I will talk later little lab rat, until that time comes, might I suggest ditching this ingrate?"
Shoving open the steel door with the hard force of all her strength, Miriam marched straight towards the Corvette before leaning over the passenger door to grab her bag. Hearing the roar of a motorcycle closing in on her, she spun around to face the mouth of the alleyway and caught sight of Pierce throwing out the kickstand before throwing his leg over the seat.
"How stupid could you be Miriam!"
Scoffing as she narrowed her eyes on his approaching frame, she felt herself freezing before tossing her bag aside on the ground. Closing in the distance between her and the Lieutenant, she felt herself preparing for a fight. "I have done nothing fucking wrong! You on the other hand…" she snapped, throwing her fist out against his chest just as Pierce painfully gripped her wrist, spreading her fingers as he clutched her palm hard against his healing wound.
"I heal quickly, remember" he growled, leaning down close to her face as he caught her wincing with the pain, he was responsible for.
"Let go of my hand…NOW!" Wrenching her hand out of his tight grip, she turned away and walked towards her bag that sat slumped against the side of the building.
"Did you make a deal with him?"
Hearing Cain's question, as she took up her bag, she dusted off the bottom before shrugging it over her shoulders.
"Because Lucifer Morningstar says he is the Devil? No, sorry. I didn't." Catching the release in his face, Miriam shook her head and closed her mouth as she started to walk around him.
"Where do you think you are going?"
Spinning around on the heel of her shoe, she threw her hands up onto her hips as she continued to slowly walk backgrounds down the alleyway, stepping over an old dirty pizza box. "Home. Away from Lucifer and away from everything…biblical" she blurted out, throwing her hands out as Pierce started towards her.
"I'll take you home."
Shaking her head as she wrapped her fingers around the straps of her backpack, Miriam set her chin hard as she opened her mouth to speak.
"No."
"No?"
"No. As in, No Cain, I don't want a ride. I'm perfectly fine to walk on my own."
"Stop acting like a damn fucking child, and get on the bike NOW!"
…
345 E 1st Street, Apt 3, Little Tokyo, Los Angeles, California…
Giving Pierce's shoulders a hard shove as she threw herself off the back of the bike, she heard his booted footsteps following behind her as she approached the broken door that would lead to the piss stained staircase of her building.
"We need to talk."
"Answer me one question Marcus Pierce, the day I walked into your office with all those packing boxes, were you…going to leave Los Angeles?"
Were you going to leave me?
Tucking his chin into his chest as he followed her up the stairs, he was careful to leave generous distance as he thought about lying.
It wouldn't be the first time you lied to a woman
"I was. In addition to that, I even had the selling papers to my house. But I didn't sign them" he added. "Why did you go with Lucifer today?"
"I didn't know that my brother's suicide and sexuality was common knowledge around the Prescient" she muttered, catching the confusion in Pierce's eyes.
"What, did Lucifer offer you Miriam?" he questioned, taking the rest of the stairs by two as they both walked onto the landing outside apartment number three.
"Nothing."
"Don't lie to me. He's a powerful…being, and even if you don't fall under his powers of persuasion, every human being just can't help themselves to making a deal with him."
"Well, I'm not every human being."
"No, you're not."
Taking out her keys, Miriam fervently prayed over and over in her head that Dakota would be sitting on the couch, ready to provide backup and an excuse to make the Lieutenant leave. Opening her door, she felt her stomach sink as the living room was bathed in pitch dark without a sound to be heard that anyone else was around.
"I have nothing to drink."
Leaning against the frame of the darkened kitchen alcove, Pierce crossed his arms over his broad chest as he focused his eyes on Miriam's back.
"Not even tap water?"
Faucet is broken…
Sighing to herself as she thought of uttering the lie, she turned to the cupboard above the sink and pulled out two small mason jars. Filling them up with luke warm water, she held one out as Pierce avoided her fingers. Walking to move around the Lieutenant, she halted in place as Marcus threw his arm out, blocking her way.
"Forcible confinement Officer."
"I am prepared to talk all night Miriam. Just tell me one thing…"
Setting her water aside on the counter as she moved closer, she felt the strength of his outstretched arm against her chest as she heard him breathing.
"What, one thing?"
"Did Lucifer, ask you to make a deal with him?"
"No" she answered quickly and honestly as Pierce downed the water in his glass.
"But you're thinking about it, aren't you?"
Bringing up both her hands, she laid them on Pierce's arm and breathed in deeply as he opened his mouth to speak.
"Because you know him so well?"
Hearing her interruption as he narrowed his eyes down onto her face, he sucked in a deep breath as his fingers became tight around the edge of the door frame.
"Yes."
Swallowing the lump in her throat, her mind started to race with a million questions as she looked up into his eyes.
From the early days of the Bible
"Let me by."
Letting his arm fall as he felt the warmth of her body moving past his hip, Pierce felt the low growl balling up in the back of his throat as he raised his eyes up and onto the dark ceiling.
Leave
Just leave
She obviously can't stand the sight of you right now
"I can't."
Hearing his own whisper, he turned around and slowly moved into the living room as he watched Miriam sinking down onto the cheap nearly threadbare IKEA sofa.
"Have you listened to your brother's last voicemail?"
Running her hands over her face before sinking back against the sofa, Miriam shook her head slightly as she heard his booted footsteps approaching.
"I don't want to talk about."
"Did Lucifer allude to anything regarding your brother?"
"Jesus! What does it matter to you Cain! Are you asking me if I'm thinking of making a deal with him? To see if he can let me see him one last time? FUCK!" Throwing her hands up as she bolted upright from the sofa, she felt the tight grip of Pierce's hand wrapping around her wrist as he held her steady in front of him.
"I'm going to warn you once and for all. DO NOT, make a deal with Lucifer Morningstar. Not to see your brother, not to hear your brother, not to anything!" he spat, staring into her eyes as he watched them water.
"Wouldn't it be better to hear my brother's final words in person than from a shitty voicemail that has four days left before it erases?" Miriam whispered as she felt the coldness radiating out from Cain's blue eyes.
"Your brother is dead Miriam. He's no longer a living, breathing soul."
Feeling her mouth falling open with his harsh words, the young woman ripped her hand out of his grasp as she threw a hand out quick towards the apartment door.
"Get out. GET THE FUCK OUT!"
Watching as Pierce slammed the front door behind him without a single word, Miriam held her breath as she listened to his footsteps fading away down the hallway towards the staircase.
I know my brother is dead Cain
I don't need the fucking reminder
Steadying her breathing as she felt a tightness in her stomach, she marched over and twisted the deadbolt before adding the flimsy chain.
"Would it really keep anyone out?" she whispered to herself before making her way into the kitchen alcove. Opening the fridge door, she grabbed one of Dakota's beers from the back and twisted the lid off, tossing the cap into the sink before taking a deep sip.
God, he pisses me off
Letting out a sigh as her imagination started to taunt her, she strode down the dark hallway with blurry exhausted eyes and made a left into the bathroom, kicking the door closed behind her. Setting the beer bottle on the edge of the tub, Miriam left the light off as she dug into the top drawer of the vanity, digging out a pack of matches and three tea lights. Strategically placing the small candles along the edge of the tub, she switched on both faucets and stripped off all of her clothing. Stepping into the water, she laid back and sighed as the warm water splashed up over her thighs and breasts. Taking another sip of her beer, she brought the bottle down into the water watching it float between her thumb and forefinger before closing her eyes…
(Flashback)
Gathering up the last of the drinking glasses off the kitchen table, Miriam ignored the sharp clangs as she heard her Mother turning on the faucet to fill the sink. Grabbing the dish cloth that was handed to her, she moved back to the table and started to wipe it down as a throat cleared.
"Where did this fascination with the Police come from Miriam?"
Hearing her Mother's question, Miriam sighed as she pushed a few crumbs over the edge, ignoring them on the floorboards.
"Maybe God told me to become a police officer."
Knowing her comment would irritate her Mother, she couldn't help but smile as she tossed the cloth onto the counter.
"Do not put your Lord God to the test" Yulia muttered as she nodded her head towards the leftover baked bread. Raising her eyes onto the two men walking across the front yard towards the fence, she narrowed her eyes onto her daughter's friend's back as Moses trailed behind.
"Marcus is…a little older than you, isn't he?"
Bagging the bread up, Miriam glanced out the same window and watched as Pierce threw a stick into the air as Moses yipped with excitement.
"He doesn't strike me as the kind of man who would come home every night at five to a wife and children…"
"He's a Lieutenant with the LAPD. Nine to five is not exactly in the job description" Miriam muttered as she sank down into the warm water, allowing her mouth to dip below the waterline.
Chances are he's more use to one-night stands and blow jobs on the go…
Releasing her hold on the beer bottle, she heard it clink against the chrome of the tub as she started to drift off to sleep.
How many wives have you had Cain?
How many children?
Twenty minutes later…
Jolting awake as water sloshed over the sides of the tub snuffing the tealights out, Miriam sat up and hugged her knees as she felt the now cool water running down her arms and back. Turning her head towards the closed door, she stared as soft musical notes of what sounded like a violin flowed out into the hallway.
Dakota would not be caught dead listening to classical music
Rising up out of the water, she grabbed her towel and wrapped it firmly around her wet body before glancing at her reflection in the mirror to see smudged mascara around the corners of her eyes. Stepping out into the hallway, she definitely heard clearly the notes of a violin playing though not live. Slowly pushing open her half-closed bedroom door, Miriam threw her eyes onto her desk as she spied an unfamiliar phone plugged into her speakers. Feeling a cold breeze against her cheek, she caught movement out of the corner of her eye and nearly screamed.
"How in the fuck, did you get in here?!"
Staring incredibly at the man sitting propped up against the pillows on her bed, Miriam wanted nothing more than to smack the flirtatious smirk right off his lips after the kind of night she had been having.
Cain leaves
And the Devil appears
"We must get you a headboard. Does the Lieutenant have one?" he questioned, smirking as he lowered his eyes onto her toweled chest. Turning around on her heel, Miriam padded down the hallway towards the front door and stopped short as she noticed it closed, deadbolted, and chained shut.
How did he get in here?
Looking back around, she heard no noise to indicate Dakota had been or was home.
"Miriiiaaammmmm….we have something to talk about…"
Hearing his voice singing out her name, she swallowed hard as she slowly moved back towards her bedroom. Halting at the edge of the door, she stared at Lucifer as he sat up and shrugged off his black blazer.
"Please, don't get dressed on my account."
Reaching around the back of the door, her fingers grasped the fabric of her pale pink silk bathrobe as it slid off the hook.
"You show me yours and I'll show you mine?"
Slamming the door to the bathroom, Miriam let the towel fall onto the floor around her feet as she shrugged on the robe. Tying the belt tight, she gathered up her loose hair and tied it back into a high ponytail. Brushing her bangs out of her eyes, she leaned in close to the mirror to scrap at a piece of dried mascara when she scoffed.
It's Lucifer Morningstar for fuck sakes
Throwing open the door, she walked across the hall and stepped into her bedroom, leaving the door open behind her as Lucifer interlaced his fingers behind his head.
"Dakota is not here, so I'm going to ask you again Lucifer, how did you get in here?"
Bringing one hand down against his thigh, Lucifer reached into his pocket and pulled out a familiar looking housekey with a Victoria Secret keychain.
"My little girlfriend gave me her keys" he smiled, as Miriam crossed her arms over her chest.
"You mean your little flavor of the week? leave it on the table when you leave in five minutes" she growled, feeling her anger growing at the thought of Lucifer Morningstar using her friend.
No, knowing the thought that Lucifer Morningstar was using her friend.
"Well, sounds like a wee bit of jealousy" he smirked, looking over to the right side of the bed. Patting the empty mattress beside him, Miriam rolled her eyes before pulling out the chair that sat pushed against her desk. Taking a seat as she ignored Lucifer's come-hither stare, she adjusted the fabric of her robe around her chest as the man in her bed sat up.
"Can you shut that off please?"
Cocking his head as he listened to her request, Lucifer shook his head as he stared into her eyes.
"Interesting little story this piece comes with. Though known as the violin sonata in G minor, it's more popular name as the Devil's Trill Sonata might cause you to have a few questions to ask me" he smiled as Miriam rolled her eyes.
He's lounging around on your bed uninvited
Staring at you, almost trying to will you to slip off your robe to the floor
He's dangerous
But somehow…
"So, some poor fool wrote a song about you? With no lyrics, that's just unfair."
Hearing the sarcasm in her voice as he felt the corners of his mouth twitching in earnest, Lucifer swallowed his initial response before steepling his fingertips together.
"Giuseppe Tartini, an Italian composer and violinist, stated that he once had a dream that I had appeared to him and apparently, had quite the skill with his strings."
Sure
"And when, was this dream?" Miriam questioned offhandedly as she caught Lucifer's wide smile and pearly white teeth.
"In 1713."
Feeling her mouth slowly falling open, she knew her eyes had gone wide judging by Lucifer's reaction as she took a deep breath. "Seventeen…never mind."
"Perhaps it was one of my brothers or my slightly androgynous sister. Cassiel really is due for a haircut…or perhaps good old Giuseppe was just going mad from the venereal disease."
He really is quite the character.
Pierce may have risen from the dead inches from me, but Lucifer has done nothing to show that he is the Devil
He just acts like he is God's gift to women
"What is it, that we have to talk about Mr. Morningstar?" she questioned, feeling the room suddenly lowering in temperature.
"My Father is not as Liberal as some might think"
Swallowing hard as she heard the creaking of the bedroom door, Miriam turned just in time to see it shut firmly on its own before feeling a quick gust of wind against her hands. Bringing her eyes around, she felt her entire body freeze as she stared into Lucifer's dark eyes, inches from her own.
"As our last conversation was cut rather short, we can continue without disruption seeing how you sent the Lieutenant away earlier with blue balls."
Blinking quickly as she rose to her feet, she stepped around the man and took a seat on the edge of her desk.
"An even better position."
"Alright, fucking knock it off with the whole sex thing!"
Holding his hands up in mock defeat, the Devil walked backwards and took a seat on the edge of the single bed.
"Tell me what it is that you want little Lab Rat."
Clearing her throat as she tucked her chin into her chest, Miriam pursed her lips as Lucifer leaned back against her mattress.
"Your little eye thing doesn't work on me."
"I'm not trying to seduce you with my eyes. I'm asking you as a warm-blooded male."
"I'm not answering that question."
"Then tell me about your brother."
Moving over to the window, she pushed back the curtain and stared down into the street as she noticed Lucifer's corvette. Narrowing her eyes as she noticed the license plate, she scoffed before looking back at the man on her bed.
"FALLIN1 is your license plate?"
Crossing his feet at the ankles, Lucifer smiled as he propped his head up with a single hand.
"Fitting, don't you think?" he questioned, watching her turning around again. "You desire to go for a drive? Listen to some mood setting music before you tell me that you'd give anything or do anything…and I mean, anything, to see your little brother again?"
Don't do it Miriam
Think about what Cain said
Keeping her eyes firmly fixed on the man lounging around on her bed so casual like, Miriam clutched at the slight opening of her robe as she started to think seriously about his offer of a late-night drive through the streets of LA.
"If…I agree to go for a drive with you, you keep your hands off me."
Watching him sitting up as his shoes came to rest on the floorboards, Lucifer felt his lips parting into a small grin as he held up his left hand.
"Pinky swear?"
Letting out a quick nervous chuckle as she watched him holding out his finger, Miriam took a small step forward as she pushed out her hand. Hooking her finger slowly around his, she felt the warmth of his other hand wrapping around her wrist as he leaned in close.
"Fuck Cain, Marcus, Pierce, Lieutenant…whatever else name you have ever gone by" she swore under her breath as she pulled away walking by the edge of her bed to the closet. Grabbing a tank top, cardigan and clean set of black tights, Miriam strode to the closed bedroom door and threw it open wide.
"Right, I'll set up the playlist for the night ride."
…
Thirty minutes later…
Making a left turn off South Grand Avenue on a red light as the sounds of car horns blared all around them, Miriam closed her eyes tightly as Lucifer let out a hysterical laugh.
"Choose to believe it or not, but you are extremely safe in my company" he purred, gripping the wheel with one hand as Miriam caught his eye. "But I do wonder if I am as vulnerable around you as with the Detective."
"What do you mean vulnerable?"
Tucking his five o'clock shadowed chin into his chest as he pressed his foot down to speed through another yellow light, Lucifer thought of his words carefully as he laid a hand down on his right thigh.
"Detective Decker can make the Devil bleed when she is close by. You on the other hand, I may have to test my theory the next time we are in the prescient kitchen next to the butter knives."
Listening to the slow beats of a Nina Simone remix for Strange Fruit playing over the corvette speakers, Miriam rested her head back comfortably against the headrest as she closed her eyes feeling the warm night's air against her cheeks.
"How long have you lived in Los Angeles for?"
Hearing her question as he sped through a yellow stop light, Lucifer tapped his fingers along the leather of the wheel as he listened to the voice of Nina Simone.
"Five years on Earth. Before that? Hell. Before that, Heaven."
Snapping her eyes open as the man beside her in the driver's seat spoke, Miriam sat up straight and turned her head to focus on his stubbled chin.
"So, you have a fake driver's license?"
"All things identification, fake."
Con men the world over could learn a thing or two from you
"So now that you know Cain is not a work of fiction, why are you having such a hard time, believing in my very existence?"
Holding her breath as they turned down West Sunset, Miriam thought of a million things to say but could only focus on one specific thought.
"So, you are the fallen angel? The one who lost to Michael?"
Narrowing his eyes as he chewed on his lower lip, Lucifer felt the growl escaping from his throat as he shot her a warning glance to back off.
"My bastard of a brother cheated to win."
"Have you ever met Jesus?"
Smirking as he pulled the Corvette over to park on the left side of Bronson Ave, Lucifer killed the engine and shifted in his seat to face her.
"Have you never read the Book of Matthew?"
Surprised by his question, Miriam scoffed as she crossed her arms across her chest.
"You mean, the story where you and Jesus were hanging out on the mountain?"
Smiling as he turned over the engine once more, he gave her a wink as he started back on the road.
"Deny it all you want, but you and I lab rat, are very similar way deep down underneath all this flesh, bone, and blood."
"I'd…like to go home now."
"Too much truth for one night?"
Something like that…
…
Marcus Pierce's Residence, 3806 Ocean Front Walk, Marina Del Rey, California…
12:30am
Glancing at the clock on her dashboard, she watched as the numbers rolled over as she turned the Honda Civic onto Ocean Front Walk.
You can do this Miriam
Apologize and hope that he will see you
You need to hear his story
"Please don't slam the door in my face even though I totally deserve it." Pulling slowly into Pierce's driveway, she narrowed her eyes as she spied a second vehicle parked next to the grey Dodge Charger. Feeling a sinking feeling in her stomach as she put her car in park, Miriam sat still to avoid looking up at the house.
Does he have someone over?
A woman?
Tightening her hands around the steering wheel, she pulled out the key and pushed open her door before pushing it closed behind her. Walking up the walkway, she walked around the corner of the house and took in a deep breath of the salty ocean air.
What are you going to say to him?
Standing in front of the door, she raised a closed first and thumped twice before taking a step backwards.
Breath
Just breath
Hearing thumps along the wooden floorboards, she closed her eyes and could see the interior of the house as the steps halted at the door. Hearing the door open, she opened her eyes and stared into Pierce's face as she watched him chewing on the inside of his cheek in complete silence.
"I'm sorry."
Continuing to chew on the inside of his cheek, Pierce laid a hand on the wooden beam of the doorframe before reaching up to scratch at his throat.
"I…I want to hear your story, Cain."
Hearing him sucking in a deep breath, Miriam shifted her weight from her left foot to her right as she waited for him to say something, anything.
"Marcus?"
Blinking quickly as she heard a woman's voice from inside, Miriam glanced up and spied a familiar looking blonde standing on the top of the staircase, staring down.
She owned that bar he took me to
The…Adams?
Nodding her head as she took a step backwards, Miriam avoided Pierce's eyes as she turned to walk back down the walkway.
That's it
That's…the end
Striding determinedly down the walkway towards her car, she rounded the corner of the house and held her breath as she focused on the hood of her car.
Don't cry
Don't you dare fucking cry
Pulling open the door of her car, she slipped inside and immediately hit the locks before shoving the key into the ignition.
Can you really blame him Miriam?
Throwing the car into reverse, she looked over her shoulder and felt her stomach sink as she spied Pierce no where in sight.
He's done with you and your shit Miriam
And you are too
Driving down the street, she accelerated through two stop signs before reaching into her pocket for her Blackberry. Glancing down at the screen, she spied no text messages or missed calls before throwing it down onto the passenger seat.
Where are you going to go Miriam?
Home?
…
LUX Nightclub, 6868 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, California…
1:02am
Staring up at the ceiling of the elevator as she felt it climbing to the penthouse, Miriam straightened her arms down her sides as she took a deep breath.
Why do you keep running to him Miriam?
You are pathetic
"Jesus. He's probably in bed with a woman…or two…or three."
Rubbing her tired dry eyes as she heard the soft ding, she watched the door opening before her as she stepped out into the darkness of the open floor. Hearing it close behind her, she stayed perfectly still as her eyes adjusted. Spying the dim lighting behind the various glass bottles of expensive alcohol, her ears perked up as she heard the faintest sound of something hitting glass. Turning around, her eyes fell on a dark figure sitting still in one of the leather chairs with his head propped up by one of his hands.
Walking slowly towards him, Miriam held her breath before sinking into the chair across from Lucifer Morningstar. Keeping her eyes down on the floor, she heard the ice cubes clinking once more against the side of the glass as she watched his fingers gently swirling the tumbler in a slow circle.
"For someone who says they feel no attraction to me, I'm beginning to lose track of the number of times you have suddenly, showed up at my door."
Moving her eyes up onto his face, Miriam held her breath as she took in his tired and frankly bored facial expression as she noticed the top four buttons of his white Tom Ford dress shirt open. Leaning forward as her eyes settled on his ring, she wrapped her fingers around the tumbler, feeling his thumb brushing against hers as she settled back in her chair.
"Just help yourself."
Taking a quick whiff of the liquid, Miriam held his eye for nearly a minute before closing her own and downing the entire contents of the glass. Feeling his lips twitching as he watched her empty his glass, he brought two fingers up beneath his chin as he stifled his chuckle. Letting out a chuckle as he crossed his black panted legs, Lucifer smiled widely as he angled his head, watching her doubling over and coughing loudly from the intense burning in her throat.
"Twenty-seven-year-old small batch Bourbon Whiskey. There are more ice cubes in the bucket on the bar counter if you think you…can't handle it" Lucifer challenged as Miriam glanced at him through watery eyes.
"Why are you here Lab rat?"
Setting the glass down on the floorboards at her feet, Miriam tucked her legs up beneath her as she caught the light weight white curtains blowing with the breeze of the late night.
"I want you to show me that you are the Devil Lucifer Morningstar."
Hearing her request, the man seated across from her scoffed as he moved his eyes down onto the tumbler.
"Refill?"
"If I asked you some questions tonight, would you answer them?"
Cocking an eye as he rose to his feet, Lucifer leaned down and took up the empty tumbler as he stood over her.
"All night?"
Swallowing hard as she watched Lucifer walking over to the bar, she watched as he pulled out a second tumbler before filling both with ice.
Steady yourself Miriam
You are in the lion's den…
Taking the tumbler from his hand, she stared at Lucifer's outstretched fingers as she allowed him to pull her onto her feet. Accompanying him out onto the balcony, she kept a hold on her glass as a blast of car horns sounded from down Hollywood Boulevard.
Talking a light sip from his glass, Lucifer moved closer to the edge of the railing before placing a light hand on the small of her back.
"Cain wouldn't answer any of your questions?"
Taking a deep sip of the Bourbon Whiskey, she felt the burn once more in the back of her throat as she made no attempt to pull away from his presence.
"He's walked this world alone since the beginning of time, he can continue to walk it alone."
Chuckling as he sat his glass down on the balcony floor, Lucifer pulled out a silver lighter and a pack of cigarettes. Balancing one between his lips, he shoved a second one to join as he brought the flame over the edges. Taking one between his fingers, he held it out to her and was slightly surprised when she took it.
"A whole new Miriam Tyler now that the world's first murderer is no longer in the picture?"
Hearing Lucifer's words, she felt her stomach sink as the thought of giving her resignation at eight sharp the next morning briefly entered her mind.
"I'm twenty-one years old, and this is the first time I've smoked a cigarette."
Expertly flicking the ash off the edge of the balcony, Lucifer caught her eye before giving a wink.
"First fag? Anything else tonight that would be your…first?" he questioned with a flirtatious smile as she rolled her eyes.
"No."
"Shame. Though I do believe that you can teach an old dog new tricks…"
I can't believe I am here
With him
"I will answer three of your questions tonight Lab rat."
Catching his eye as she tossed the barely smoked cigarette over the edge of the balcony, Miriam rubbed at her right wrist as she looked over her shoulder.
"Washroom?"
"There's only one, off my bedroom...though I think you already knew that."
Walking away from the tall man who now leaned his dress shirted forearms on the balcony railing, Miriam held her breath as she rounded the carved corners of the alcove to step into his dark bedroom.
Don't look at the bed
Don't look at the black sheets that you have once slept in
Walking into the dark bathroom, she ran a hand up along the wall and felt the switch as the room was bathed in soft light. Staring at her reflection in the large glass mirror, she froze before noticing the slight flush on her cheeks. Turning on the cold faucet, she cupped her hands together and scooped up two mouthfuls of water into her mouth before splashing another handful against her face. Grabbing the black hand towel, the young girl patted at her face before straightening it back on the rack.
"What in the fuck are you doing here Miriam?"
Whispering to herself as she washed her hands to get rid of the cigarette smell, she hummed as she leaned her hands on the marble counter top before noticing Lucifer standing at the door less frame. Spinning around, she felt herself being easily lifted to sit on the edge of the counter as the Devil trapped her with a hand on each side of her hips. Staring into his dark eyes, he spoke not a word as he seemed to be searching her face for something. Hearing him taking in a deep breath as he concentrated on her scent, Miriam shuddered as she noticed his slight cologne.
"I could change your life forever you know…"
Swallowing hard as she lowered her eyes onto his lips, she couldn't help but moisten her own with his words.
"There's more to a changed life than sex."
Hearing her whisper as he leaned in closer, Lucifer let out a long sigh before placing a soft kiss against her cheek.
"I'm hungry."
…
Walking into the dark kitchen that was situated just off his private office, Miriam winced as the lights blazed on overhead to reveal every stainless-steel cooking gadget and appliance that would rival even the highest class five-star restaurants in North America. Standing against the corner to her right, she watched as Lucifer Morningstar set about opening the large refrigerator, taking out two large raw prime bone-in porterhouse steaks and fresh parsley, he sat them on the counter before reaching for a crisp white apron.
"Has anyone ever cooked before in this kitchen?"
Hearing Miriam's question as he pulled out a large frying pan, Lucifer nodded his head as he opened his mouth to speak.
"Once, and not by me."
Watching him getting the steaks ready, she moved towards the counter as he held out a sharp butcher towards her, handle first.
"Cut up the parsley."
Hearing the sizzle of the frying pan as she watched Lucifer turning over the steaks, she could feel her mouth watering as he grabbed two white plates. Watching him placing the meat on the plates, she felt her lips twitching as he arranged the steaks to sit perfectly center.
"Parsley?"
Handing over the cutting board, she watched as he sprinkled a few of the chopped herbs with his fingers over the steaks before kissing his fingers in perfection.
"Bellissimo!"
...
Penthouse...
Taking up her steak knife and fork, she watched as a full glass of red wine was poured in front of her as she shook her head.
"Usually when someone says they are hungry, they order a pizza, not a one-hundred-dollar steak."
"I am a Devil of good taste."
Pausing in her chewing, Miriam stared as Lucifer took a generous sip of red wine.
"Have you thought of your final question for me tonight?"
Final question?
"You said three…"
Swallowing another piece of porter-house, Lucifer smiled as he held up three fingers. "Washroom was number one, and has anyone ever cooked before in my kitchen was number two. You have one question left."
"That's not fair."
Catching her eye as he pushed the bottle of wine closer to her fingers, he smiled widely.
"Life's…not fair."
Chewing silently as she scrapped off some of the parsley, Miriam sat back against her chair and pondered his words.
"Lucifer the light bringer. Lucifer, the fallen angel, Lucifer…the Devil." Setting his cutlery down on the table, he pushed his chair back and stood up to his full six-foot three height as he started to unbutton the rest of his white dress shirt.
"Whoa…wait…" Feeling her eyes going wide as she watched him tossing aside his shirt onto the far end of the table, Miriam took a deep breath as she scanned her eyes over his smooth chest and pectoral muscles. Catching his eye, she watched as he breathed out before slowly turning around to show her his back.
Holy shit…
Slowly rising to her feet, she moved around the edge of the table and took steady steps as she approached. Staring at the two long puckered scars that ran from the top of his shoulder blades halfway down to the length of his spine, she stood directly behind and felt her eyes starting to water.
"You'll make a lousy police officer if you cry because of some self-inflected scars."
Blinking quickly as she heard his words, she stepped back as Lucifer turned around to face her.
"Self…self-inflected? You did this to yourself?"
Staring down into her face as he balled his hands into fists along his sides, Lucifer flinched as he felt her hand resting on his bare forearm.
"I didn't do this to myself. I had Maze take one of her knives and cut my wings off on the beach."
Feeling her mouth falling open, Miriam stared with a blank expression.
"Your…wings?"
"Yes. My angel wings. White feathers with the power to heal, sliced off down at the beach and burned with kerosene."
"Lucifer…"
"Ask me your final question for tonight."
I don't know what to ask
"I…don't know what to ask."
Sitting back down in his seat, Lucifer ignored the rest of his uneaten steak as he laid both hands down palms flat on the table top.
"Did Cain hurt you?"
"Physically? No"
Hearing her whisper, Lucifer hummed in a low tone as he caught Miriam's eyes glancing over his bare shoulder towards the alcove of his dark bedroom.
"Don't think I don't see you glancing towards my bedroom. Contrary to popular belief, I don't always have a woman or two or three in my sheets."
"How do I know my brother is in Hell?"
Blinking quickly as he heard her rushed and pent up question, Lucifer smiled as he flexed the fingers of both his hands.
"How about we save that conversation for the morning?"
The morning…
Hearing him rise from his chair, she stiffened as she heard him walking away from her towards the penthouse elevator. Taking a small key out from his pant pocket, he inserted it into the keyhole and turned, watching the elevator go dark and silent as he stepped out from between the open door. Keeping his eyes firmly fixed on Miriam's back as he walked back to the table, he stood behind her and placed his hands on her shoulders before lowering his lips against her right ear.
"You must have a connection to me to enter Hell as a living, breathing, human being."
Shuddering as she felt his breath against her skin, Miriam turned and noticed his hand lightly squeezing her shoulder.
"Define connection?"
Feeling fingers lingering around her chin, she allowed him to raise her face and held her gaze steady as he brought his lips down inches from her own.
"Intimate," he whispered, bringing his lips down softly onto hers.
…
Thank you to all for reading and subscribing! Thank you to Guest, Verbophobic, Jess, Fujiflower, Mint Tea and Skulls for leaving reviews.
I hope everyone is enjoying my story. I'd love some more reviews!
P.S. THIS IS STILL GOING TO BE VERY MUCH A PIERCE AND MIRIAM STORY!