I do not own anything related to Lucifer, DC Comics, or Sandman series, either thru television, written books, or film. Everything belongs to Tom Kapinos, Fox, Netflix, 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 18

Song(s): Black Soul (Shinedown), 7 Second (Youssou Ndour)

Chloe Decker's Residence, 1000 E Ocean Blvd #104, Long Beach, California…

"And…all I saw, all I felt…."

"Was you."

"Come again?"

Staring up into Lucifer's confused dark eyes, Piper tossed the throw blanket aside before scooting over to the other side of the sofa, away from the looming Devil.

"Poor you to be dreaming of Lucifer Morningstar."

Slowly turning his head to glare over his shoulder, Lucifer narrowed his eyes as he shoved his hands into his black pants pockets.

"Everyone would be so lucky to always dream of me," he spat, turning back around to face Piper.

You had a dream of me on your eighteenth birthday Miss Harlow. Here and now is not the place in front of the Detective to pull it apart and discuss

"Time to go home."

Blinking quickly as she rose to her feet, Piper gave a wide berth of space as she passed Lucifer just as Chloe Decker held out a couple of bills.

"I'll take that if you don't mind," Lucifer jumped in as he easily took the bills from Decker's fingers before shoving them into his pocket.

"A few more hundred babysitting jobs and your debt will be paid!" he smiled, watching her grabbing her sweater as she kept her head down.

"Say good night little Miss Harlow."

Keeping her eyes closed as she felt the warm Los Angeles evening air against her face, the young teenager folded her hands together on her lap and breathed in deeply as she heard a car horn blaring in irritation.

Speeding through another red-light Lucifer Morningstar?

"Cigarette Miss Harlow?"

Smelling the wisp of cancerous smoke as she opened her eyes, Piper glanced at Lucifer's profile and felt her lips parting as she watched the Devil puffing away on two freshly lit cigarettes between his lips without a care. "Would you like one?" he offered, handing one out to her between his long fingers as he gave her a long stare with his dark eyes.

"Cigarettes cause cancer" she whispered, watching his lips twitching into a smirk.

"It won't kill me."

Of course, it wouldn't

Feeling the edge of his thumb against her finger as she took the expensive Treasurer Aluminum Black cigarette, Piper watched as the thin line of smoke rose up to curl in front of her before disappearing into the night sky.

"Remember Miss Harlow, my Father gave you free will."

Above all else

Taking a slow puff, Piper quickly shook her head as she tossed it over the side of the car.

"Your first cigarette I take it?"

"Yes," she coughed,

"I'm surprised no one has ever tempted you to smoke."

"Just you."

"Again, free will."

Hearing Lucifer's growl in the back of his throat as she turned to look out her window at the lights of the downtown buildings whizzing by, Piper knew he had a point as she leaned her head back against the rest.

"We obviously have something to talk about."

Don't think that I don't know that

Recognizing the scenery of upper Hollywood Boulevard, she knew they were less than ten minute away from LUX as she rested her fingers against the door handle.

I need time alone to think

Feeling her breathing growing shallow as she spied LUX, Piper gripped her door handle and threw the door open before Lucifer had shifted the gear to park. Hearing a chuckle behind her as she heard the door slam, she sighed as she rounded the alleyway corner of the club as her eyes fell on Lucifer leaning against the side of the double glass doors. Stepping over the threshold as he held the door, Piper made a bee line towards the elevator just as a flirtatious giggle met her ears.

"Well hello, long time no see my darling!"

Glancing back over her shoulder, Piper felt her lips pulling into a scowl as a tall, stick thin woman wearing the brightest shade of red lipstick she had ever seen draped her arm around Lucifer's waist.

"You two can wait for the elevator to come back down" she spat under her breath as she slammed the palm of her hand down against the penthouse button. Watching the doors close, she leaned back against the spotless glass and watched the display change to PH as the door slid open into darkness. Shutting the bedroom door firmly behind her, Piper threw her hands up onto her hips before quickly moving to grab her desk chair. Wedging it against the door, she took three steps backwards and stared at the door handle.

"The club is silent for once." Walking over to the window, she pushed aside the curtain and threw the pane of glass up. Looking down into the empty alley, she saw a shadow of herself running down the length of the club with Andrea, Jacob, and Dylan leading the way.

"And then you dragged me into your club," she breathed, raising her eyes to the dark sky.

"I feel like a prisoner."

Leaving the window wide open as she pulled the curtain closed, Piper slowly turned and stared at her made up bed and the bareness of the walls all around her. Walking forward, she pulled her closet door open and spied the two cans of black paint that Maze had gifted her…

(Flashback)

Flipping open the flaps of the box, her eyes took in two cans of black paint and a few heavy-duty brushes and rollers before she spotted a folded white piece of paper.

White means innocent, and you are not innocent - M

Pulling off her sweater, she tossed it onto the top shelf of the closet before pulling out the cans and all of the rollers and brushes.

If I sleep, I might dream of you again Lucifer Morningstar…and I don't want that right now

2 hours later…

Slowly pulling open her bedroom door, Piper wiped at a smear of black paint against the side of her cheek as she listened to the quietness of the penthouse.

They either left LUX together, or they are in bed…

Together

Feeling a shiver running down her back as she stepped out into the dark hallway, Piper slowly rounded the corner and spied the soft backing glow of the well stocked bar. Feeling her stomach growl, she dared not to ring for the elevator to chance the stainless steel chef kitchen on the first floor without knowing the whereabouts of the Devil in residence. Grabbing the first bottle of white wine within reach, Piper froze as a loud snore came from the dark alcove bedroom directly across from where she stood.

Just grab it and go

Holding her breath until she reached her bedroom, Piper blocked the door once more with her chair and wasted no time in twisting open the bottle of chilled white wine. Bringing the mouth up to her lips, she halted and let out a laugh as she noticed the ghoulish character drawing that ran up the side of the bottle.

"Pitchfork, wings, horns and all," she whispered taking a deep sip as she sat on the edge of her bed. Staring up at the black painted walls with warm cheeks, Piper rose to her feet and with a flourish stride back to her window, she kissed the devilish character and allowed her fingers to drop the bottle down to the alley. Smirking as she heard the glass bottle shatter into the darkness below, she chocked back a laugh as she turned back towards her bed

"May flights of angels…fucking…fuck…" Drifting off into a drunken slumber across her bed, the young girl was oblivious to the pair of large grey wings that fluttered outside her wide open window.

LUX Nightclub, 6868 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, California…

6:01am

"WAKE UP!"

Throwing her eyes open at the loud shout inches from her ear, Piper scrambled and clutched the bed sheet against her chest as she stared straight into Lucifer's dark eyes.

"Lucifer?"

"Get up. We leave in ten minutes."

Shielding her eyes from the harsh bright sunshine as Lucifer drew the shade up the window pane, he stood in front of the glass and spied a slow walking homeless woman struggling to push an oversized shopping cart covered in a blue tarp.

"I smell the opportunities this morning!"

Fifteen minutes later…

"It's Sunday morning, how are you up so early" Piper yawned as Lucifer breathed in deep before settling his sunglasses onto the bridge of his nose

"I have yet to get to bed" he spoke truthfully as Piper thought back to her soft footsteps around the bar the night before.

But I heard snoring

"I have an early birthday gift for you Miss. Harlow."

Perking her ears up at his words, she rested her hands in her lap as she waited for his explanation.

"We are going to see your Step-Father."

Los Angeles Community Hospital, 4081 E Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA

"We are here to see the asshole living out his final days in suite A please?"

Throwing her eyes up onto Lucifer's profile as he spoke to the confused looking nurse, Piper felt her mouth falling open as the Devil laid a hand on her shoulder.

"The child is worried sick about her Step-father, and you would keep her waiting?"

Catching the nurse's eyes narrowing, Piper felt her face starting to flush as she clenched her hands into fists alongside her thighs.

Why am I letting him do this to me?

"Intensive care, private room number 112. You'll need…my pass."

"There now, that wasn't so hard was it?"

Hearing their footsteps as they walked down the hallway, she was surprised that no one questioned their presence as Lucifer swiped the nurse's badge with ease.

"Why, is no one stopping us?"

Looking down into Piper's face, the Devil smirked as he held up the pass.

"We have the golden ticket."

Holding her breath as she spied room 112 to her right, Piper stood firm as Lucifer laid a hand against the small of her back.

"Happy birthday…"

Feeling his breath against her ear, Piper felt a hard shove against her back as she stumbled through the door and into her Step-Father's room. Freezing at the sight of James hooked up to a breathing machine with both arms in solid white casts, she felt her chest starting to heave as she looked behind her.

He's left me alone

Turning back around at the beeping sounds of James's monitor, Piper took a few slow steps as she watched the man's eyes opening.

Remember what he did to you

Remember what he said to you

Remember that he hit you

Standing at the side of her Step-Father's hospital bed, she let her eyes wander over his broken arms as she furrowed her brow.

"Did Lucifer break your arms?"

Watching James struggling to shake his head as the breathing tube coming out of his mouth shook, Piper laid a single hand on the bed edge as she leaned over, scanning the cuts on his face.

"Well, someone did. Pity it wasn't him…or me" she added, curling her fingers along the bed sheet as she leaned over his face. Looking at the breathing tube and listening to the beeps coming from the machine to her right, she felt the rage starting to grow from the pit of her stomach as she reached out and curled her hand around the tube.

"After this minute, I will never see you again. I don't give a shit if you die…and I'm sure you don't care either if I live. But get this…the Devil himself has taken me in," Catching her Step-Father's eyes growing wide at her words, Piper felt her lips twitching as she ripped the tube out of his mouth.

"Fuck you."

Smiling to herself as she threw open the closed door, she could hear the beeps of the breathing machine screaming as James struggled to sit himself up, freezing in utter fear as Maze slowly rounded the corner of the private bathroom wall. Tapping one of her Hell blades against her front tooth, the sultry Demon grinned widely as she watched James struggling to breath.

"I've got to hand it to her, she's embraced her inner bitch," Maze smiled as she took a seat on the edge of the bed. Grabbing the breathing tube, she twisted it around her fingers before re-attaching it.

"Don't think in any way that I am your savior" she growled, bringing her knife up to rest against his jugular.

"I'm the complete opposite."

LUX Nightclub, 6868 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, California…

2:15am

Leaning against the carved brick pillar by the elevator, Piper watched with tired eyes as the door continuously opened and closed with the push of her thumb as she felt the coolness of the club air circling around her exhausted face and neck.

Cold air every time

Would there ever be hot air?

Air from Hell?

Stepping into the stainless steel elevator, she turned and faced the closed doors and stared at her blurred reflection as she felt herself lowering down to the first floor of the club. Watching the doors spreading slowly, she breathed in deep and halted in her steps.

Fresh cigar smoke

Rounding the corner of the stone pillar, Piper stared at the intricate carving of a woman covered delicately in leaves that circled around to the backside.

Has this always been here?

Tracing the edge of a leaf with the side of her thumbnail, her ears picked up on a low chuckle followed by a loud bang on the table as she froze in place.

"YOU HAD TO HAVE FUCKING CHEATED! YOU HAD TO!"

Making her way slowly down the iron wrought staircase, Piper held onto the banister with lithe fingers as the seated man threw his eyes up at her presence.

"WAIT YOUR FUCKING TURN KID!"

Narrowing his dark eyes as he gathered up the playing cards between his fingers, Lucifer felt a low growl in the back of his throat as he felt Piper's lingering eyes on the situation before her. Taking a step backwards as the seated man quickly sprang up, Piper felt a gust of wind at her side as Maze suddenly appeared, smiling with a knife blade between her thumb and forefinger.

"Don't mess with the goods" she scolded, delicately gripping the sharpness of the blade between her fingers.

"HE FUCKING CHEATED ME OUT OF…"

"Cheated you out of what? Your sorry pathetic life? Your shitty soul that even this Demon wouldn't bother with?" Maze growled as Piper stood frozen. Feeling Maze's arm slightly bumping against hers as the man tore towards the staircase, she turned and watched over her shoulder as the man ran as if his very life depended on it.

"Try your luck friend?"

Slowing turning around at the sound of Lucifer's accented voice, Piper stared at the deck of cards that moved fluidly through his fingers as he sucked on the end of his cigar.

"Black Jack?"

Blowing out a long smoke ring, Lucifer winked as Maze moved to set up the fallen chair.

"What do I get if I win?" she asked innocently as Lucifer cocked his head to one side.

"What would you like?"

Is he serious?

Could I ask for literally anything?

"What, did that guy ask for?"

Feeling his lips twitching as he expertly shuffled the deck of cards, the Devil hummed to himself as he rolled his shoulders.

"Nothing that would benefit you in any way," he smirked, dealing out the cards as he held his cigar between his fingers.

"I want you to answer the rest of my questions."

"I was planning to anyways. Ask, for something else."

I don't know what to ask for

"When…are you going to answer them?"

"Why don't you tell me about your little dream?"

Swallowing hard, Piper took a seat on the now right sided chair and tapped her fingers against the edge of the table as she glanced down at the two cards that sat inches from her reach.

"I think…I'll need a cigarette."

Smiling, Lucifer took the cigar out of his mouth and held it out between his fingers towards her, smirking as she leaned forward and accepted it.

I've always loved the smell of cigars

Sucking on the end of the cigar without coughing, Piper held it as calmly as she could even though she could feel her entire body starting to shake with nerves.

"Where, would you like me to start Mr. Morningstar?"

Thank you to all for reading! Thank you to brookeworm3, dietmtdewbaby, sans-tambours, summerphoenix514, guest, guest, and ravenmichaelis for leaving a review!

Please leave reviews and enjoy!

P.S. Profile picture for story belongs to: tantalizing – apples . blogspot . ca

I HOPE EVERYONE IS TAKING CARE OF THEMSELVES AND OTHERS DURING THIS CRAZY TIME. SORRY FOR NOT UPDATING, I HAD THIS CHAPTER ALL PLANNED OUT IN MY HEAD BUT FINDING THE TIME TO PUT FINGERS TO COMPUTER KEYS WAS HARD. TAKE CARE FRIENDS!

Summerphoenix514 – Enjoy the update!

Ravenmichaelis – Thank you for your kind words!

Guest – Maybe…

Guest – Thank you for your obsession!

Sans-tambours – Thank you for reading!

Dietmtdewbaby – You're welcome!

Brookeworm3 – It was, wasn't it!