Hi Everyone! The search for Lucifer begins and Eve joins the cause.
Thanks for reading and for your comments, they are much appreciated! Hope everyone is staying well and staying safe. 3 adcg
Wrap Me in Your Wings – Chapter Eleven
Chloe had slept restlessly that night. Although she felt at peace about Trixie being in capable hands, she wouldn't be a mom if she wasn't worried about her daughter. Dan had called her twice asking if the two of them couldn't stay together in case Trixie got homesick, or maybe Candy needed information.
Chloe had declined. She knew Dan was restless, like her. But she really thought she was better off staying at Lux than pacing back and forth at home.
Maze was going to Amenadiel and Linda's to stay. She had the Candy connection and promised to call if there were any changes or developments from the Vegas party. Amenadiel had texted Lucifer's demon right after Dan called him for help.
Lucifer's two closest insiders would have a long conversation that ended with an excursion that had Linda's blood pressure skyrocketing, Maze cuddling Baby Charlie, and Amenadiel leaving a message at the gates of Hell, delivering Dan's words.
Would their ploy work? Amenadiel returned home hours later with a demonic scar on his cheek, anger at his brother for making him take such extreme measures and no certain answer. If Lucifer got the message, would he change his plans for Dan? For Trixie? For Chloe?
Only time would tell.
-
In the morning Chloe woke to a bit of a breeze coming through a slightly opened balcony door. How on earth? She had gone out on the balcony once during the night when she just couldn't close her eyes. Lucifer really did have the most beautiful view of the City of Angels from his home. Had she not closed the door all the way when she came back in?
Chalk this up to more penthouse mysteries.
Chloe climbed out of bed for what felt like the 10th time since she had initially tried to go to sleep the previous night. She wandered toward the door and caught the hint of aftershave in the air. She thought his name this time but didn't say it out loud. Instead she just breathed in deeply.
She grabbed her robe from the foot of the bed and then actually walked out to the balcony. She looked around again for the butterfly but still was a bit disappointed not to find it there. So she sat down in one of the lounge chairs and stared toward the horizon.
"Well, your urchin did it," she couldn't help talking to him, even if it was words into the air. Chloe fidgeted with something on the arm of the chair and then looked up as though she were looking directly at Lucifer. "She went to Vegas looking for you. Vegas – because you and I both know that city holds wonderful memories, doesn't it? Do you suppose we might go there together someday? Perhaps we could take a trip there that doesn't involve your ex-wife," she found herself sounding quite sarcastic.
Chloe sighed. She had nothing against Candy. Especially now that Trixie was in her care, she couldn't bad mouth the woman at all. Except for the fact Lucifer had married her. She still got a little bit of bile in her throat whenever she thought about that.
"Candy is helping Trixie try to find you, ya know? Are you aware of what's going on…er…up here? She and Eve are going to be in charge of my daughter as of this afternoon…" Chloe sucked in a deep breath, "Dan wants to go after them. He wants to just catch a flight, go to Vegas and bring Trixie home. But something inside of me says I need to trust our daughter…our urchin."
She stood up and leaned against the railing, gripping the smooth handle with her eyes closed. "Lucifer, I want to trust my gut on this, but I need you to back me up. Is Trixie okay with Candy and Eve? Will one of them bring her home or at least send her home? Do I need to send Maze to Vegas to get her? Do I need to go? Am I making the right call here?"
In that exact instant her mind drifted back to the case of Delilah's shooting. The first case that she and Lucifer had ever worked together. Before being called to Trixie's school, Lucifer had been in the back of Chloe's police cruiser having a conversation that was nothing less than animated. She recalled one of the lines Lucifer had said to her quite seriously, "You're smart, trust your instincts."
It was simple. He had meant it without knowing her for more than just a few hours. And his belief in her had spurred her on, encouraged her and stuck with her for years. Now she felt the words in her heart…trust your instincts.
And in the next moment she heard her phone chime on the table by the bed. She hurried back inside to see what she had missed. It was a message from Trixie with a picture attached.
Candy said to let you know we are going to talk to some hotel managers that she knows personally to ask about Lucifer. I will keep you posted. Trust me, Mom.
Chloe scrolled down to see the picture that came with the text. She gasped and had to sit down on the bed. There was Trixie in her hotel bed with an enormous black butterfly sitting on the back of her hand.
"You do know, don't you?" she felt the breeze again from the door and got the same whiff of him that she had just a few minutes ago. "If you're watching out for us, does that mean you'll come home? Or does it mean that things are under control here and you need to stay away from us? I wish I could trust my instinct on that, Lucifer. But what I want and what my gut says are two different things."
She looked back at the picture of her daughter and the dark insect. She glanced back at Trixie's typed message and she thought again about Lucifer's early words to her. The detective wanted to trust her instincts, but her heart and mind were at war.
-
Trixie looked much like her mother in a pair of khaki pants, a loose t-shirt tucked in at the front of her waist a light sweater over that and a pair of comfortable but fashionable boots. The sunglasses that she donned as they stepped out of the cab made her look like a teenager.
Candy looked down at the girl and smiled as they approached the first hotel. It was the one where Lucifer was staying when the two of them first met. They approached the front desk in the beginning of their quest.
Candy smiled kindly as Trixie pulled out a picture of Lucifer that she had actually printed off the internet. It was a better picture than the one on his driver's license.
"Do you know this man?" Trixie began as she held up the picture.
The woman at the desk looked at Candy and raised her eyebrows. She then looked back at Trixie and shook her head. "He looks familiar, what's his name?"
"Lucifer Morningstar," Trixie answered easily. "He was last seen in Los Angeles, but we have reason to believe he may be in Las Vegas now. He," she paused and nibbled on her bottom lip for a second as she thought, "His family needs him back in California and sent us to look for him."
The woman smiled at her softly and nodded in understanding. "I'm sorry, I haven't seen him here, not recently. But I will keep an eye out for him. Is there a number I can call if he does show up here?"
Trixie puffed out her cheeks and looked up at Candy. She hadn't thought about that.
Candy looked at the desk worker. "If you would contact the L.A.P.D. that would be great. Her mom works with them and Lucifer is well-known in the department. He's a consultant for them."
Again the woman nodded in agreement. And when Candy asked to see the manager the lady happily went and got the man who was more than happy to chat with them.
They spent the next two and a half hours going through the same speech at several different hotels. They even ventured into Fletcher's, the bar that Candy owned, and asked the bartender for information.
Unfortunately, the twosome came up with nada by the time lunch rolled around.
With a sadness in her eyes Trixie climbed into the cab beside Candy as they headed back toward their hotel.
"I thought somebody would've seen him," the little girl began to show when she leaned her head against the window.
Candy put her arm around Trixie on the back of the seat. "I bet if you asked your mom, she would tell you that this is what it feels like doing detective work. Lots of asking questions and few answers. But, when those answers do come along it's a big deal, ya know?"
Trixie nodded. "I guess. Yeah, seems like she does have to do a lot of leg work on most of her cases."
"And you asked some great questions. I mean, all the adults that you talked to, hotel managers, bar owners, some of those people were pretty big names. And several of them know Lucifer, they just haven't seen him. So you know, now they'll probably put the word out there that somebody's looking for him and before you know it, he'll be back in Los Angeles!" She squeezed Trixie's shoulder which garnished at least a little smile from the girl. "With you…and your mom," Candy added.
The next 20 minutes were quiet as Trixie thought about what Candy had said, about the conversations they had shared and questions she had asked. This probably was detective work. She knew it was detective work. She was looking for a missing person. But, she hadn't gotten one real clue about where Lucifer might be.
When they got back to the hotel Candy grabbed a couple of tourist maps from the front lobby and they headed into the bar to grab lunch. Just as they spread out one map on the table in front of them, a familiar voice came from behind Trixie.
"I know it hasn't been long but you look like you've grown a foot," the higher pitched, woman's voice made Trixie sit up a little straighter.
She turned around and looked up at the woman who had lived with Lucifer for a while before all of the chaos with Charlie happened.
"Eve," Trixie smiled, stood up and then they both realize she must have grown. She was now looking eye to eye with the woman. She leaned in and put her arms around Eve's shoulders.
Candy watched the two. She only knew what Maze had shared with her about Eve. She had been a live-in girlfriend? After chatting with Trixie, Lucifer's ex-wife wondered if Eve had also been a distraction for him…another case of him trying to distance himself from Chloe.
Eve noticed the other woman and quickly put a hand on Trixie's back. She held her hand out toward Candy. "Hi! I'm Eve. I'm an old friend of Lucifer's and a friend of Trixie's too."
Candy shook her hand easily and smiled. "Well, Miss Trixie and I have become fast friends. Maze called me and said you might want to help out with the quest to find Lucifer."
The three ladies smiled at each other and sat down at the table. Over burgers, fries, milkshakes and a map, they planned out the rest of their afternoon. But before they went back out, Eve needed to drop off her bag and Trixie insisted on seeing if the butterfly was still in their room.
Sure enough, as soon as Lucifer's little urchin stepped foot into the bedroom she was using, a flutter of wings came directly to her. She held out her hand as it flitted in front of her chest and Trixie giggled. When the creature landed on her hand again she turned around and showed it to Candy.
"This still has to mean something," Trixie shook her head. "I don't know what, but it's gotta mean something good."
Eve looked at the butterfly with wonder. "Ok, this is going to sound weird, but Lucifer used to have a pet snake that was solid black with little blue spots on it."
Trixie gasped. "Lucifer had a pet snake?! No way!"
Eve nodded. "He was young, and stupid," she nodded with a raise of her eyebrows.
Candy laughed. "I've only known the man a couple of years. But why am I not surprised? A snake, really? Was it one of those ball python things?"
Eve shook her head. "No, it was just…I don't even know what kind it was. But Lucifer would let it curl around his arm and the thing would lay its head down on the back of his hand."
Trixie shivered at the thought. She could not imagine Lucifer having a snake coiled around his arm.
Eve continued, "He called it Diablo. Doesn't that mean 'devil'?
Candy rolled her eyes. "Yep. Again, not surprised. He is all about this devil thing, isn't he?"
Trixie looked back at the butterfly, took her other index finger and stroked one of the wings very gently. "Alright, Diablo. You stay here. We'll be back in a few hours and then I'll read some more of Lucifer's diary to you tonight, ok?"
As if it understood, the butterfly took flight and headed back to the lampshade where Trixie had left it that morning.
The adults in the room looked on in wonder. "That's a little freaky," Candy commented.
Eve just sighed, "Where Lucifer is involved, a lot of things are freaky…and freakin' cool."
Trixie agreed. "Finding him would be freakin' cool," she mumbled slightly.
Again, Eve put her hand on Trixie's back as they went out the door once more. "I called a couple of people that used to know Lucifer. They say you may be on the right track, here in Vegas. But they suggested that you just put out the word that you're looking for him. Cause the people who may know where he is aren't people that you need to be around."
The three of them climbed into another car and headed toward the opposite side of the Vegas strip to scope out other hotels. Trixie looked up at Eve as she listened to what she was saying.
"Is he in trouble?" Trixie wondered seriously.
Eve pressed her lips together and took a breath. "I don't know. I hope not. But, maybe, if you're getting the word out, maybe it'll get back to Lucifer and he can at least let you know something. Trixie, if he does need help, we can't jump in and tackle that on our own, okay? Your mom and dad would be royally mad at us if we did that."
Trixie nodded again. She understood what Eve was saying but she really, really, really wanted to find Lucifer and see him, in person.
-
Another three hours beating the streets in Vegas and still, nothing more than a few folks who knew Lucifer. Trixie was trying to keep her chin up but was a bit on the tired, pouty, disappointed side of the fence. As the two women brought her back to the hotel, Candy suggested Trixie take a bubble bath and just think about the people they had talked to. Could she glean any other clues from their answers?
Trixie agreed and was willing to try Candy's idea. She went into the bedroom and was happy to find Diablo the butterfly still hanging out and seeming quite lively. After slipping off her shoes and taking down her hair she sighed and went back into the living room.
"Do you happen to have any bubble stuff to put in the tub?" Trixie stood beside Candy who smiled up at her sweetly.
"As a matter of fact, I do. Cherry blossom scented, is that okay?"
Trixie smiled and nodded and Candy quickly got up from the couch and went into the larger bedroom to look through her toiletries.
"Thank you for coming to help," Trixie sat on the edge of the couch and looked at Eve who was sitting in a chair with her feet propped up on the ottoman.
"Of course!" Eve smiled at her. "You know, that night that you came to Lux to check on Lucifer… it meant a lot to him."
Trixie pressed her lips together. "Really? I kinda thought that ended in disaster, especially when my parents showed up."
"Did you get in trouble with them for running away?" Eve wondered. She had never had another chance to talk to Trixie besides their short conversation that night.
"They lectured me," Trixie nodded. "But I'm used to it. Wasn't the first time I had run away to find Lucifer. I think that may be why my mom isn't running after me now."
"Why do you come after him? You know he's not a real fan of kids, right?" Eve giggled as Trixie rolled her eyes.
"He's always made me laugh. He stuck up for me with a bully at my school the first time we ever met. And he makes me and my mom happy. Well, drives her crazy, I guess, but he loves her and she loves him," Trixie crossed her arms loosely over her chest.
It was Eve's turn to nod. The words weren't a surprise to her although she was a little shocked to hear them coming from a pre-teen girl instead of Lucifer or Chloe. She realized there was still a small piece of her heart that was jealous of Detective Decker, but like the pre-teen in front of her, she just wanted Lucifer to be with a woman who made him happy.
"That's kinda why I came to the penthouse that night. I knew Mom cared for him, but she wouldn't go check on him. Like now, I get so frustrated. I don't know why she won't just check on him or come look for him. Why do I always have to do this myself?" Trixie continued her thoughts as Eve got slightly lost in hers.
"I think your mom isn't here right now because Maze made sure you were taken care of. From what Maze told me, you were really going to come out here by yourself. You got guts, kid," Eve raised her eyebrows and noted Trixie's pleased face.
"Okay!" Candy came back into the open space and held out a bottle of pink bubble bath. "Use the tub in the big bath, it's got jets so you'll get mega bubbles!"
Trixie's eyes widened at the thought.
"I put one of the robes on the hook of the door. You take your time, relax a little bit and Eve and I will talk about tomorrow's plans. We'll order some room service for dinner and we can just chill out the rest of the night. Does that work for you, Boss?" She smiled a friendly grin at the girl.
Trixie blinked a couple of times. "Thank you, both of you," she sighed a long breath. "It means a lot that you care about Lucifer enough to help me."
Eve stood up from her seat and put her arms around Trixie's shoulders. "It means a lot that you care so much about him. I guarantee you won't be sorry for all the work you've done."
Trixie returned her hug. "You really think?"
Eve pulled away and nodded. "Don't give up yet."
The women watched Trixie head into the bathroom. They noted that a certain butterfly also found its way somewhere closer to the steam and bubbles. Then Candy gave Eve a sideways, uncertain look to which Eve had to question, "What?"
"Lucifer's kind of a strange fellow, kind of mysterious. How can you guarantee anything about him? If he doesn't want to be found, I don't think an 11 year old girl is going to change that," Candy said with a touch of accusation.
"It's not that he doesn't want to be found," Eve responded. "He's in a place where he can't be found. But, it's a place that he can leave," she thought about what she was saying and who she was talking to, "at least for a while. And I'm almost positive he knows about her little trip," she pointed toward the room where Trixie had gone. "He would move Heaven and Hell for her mother so I'm quite sure she fits that category too."
Candy thought about what Eve was saying for a moment. "Heaven, Hell, Lucifer… Eve… You know him pretty well, don't you? You're more than just an old girlfriend or lover, aren't you?"
Eve breathed in and out silently as she looked at Lucifer's ex-wife. "You could say he was my first temptation and I've spent an absolute eternity trying to get over him. But he and I weren't meant to be. Lucifer is supposed to be with Chloe."
Candy nodded. It would likely take an eternity for her to figure out all of Lucifer's inner-workings and the chaos that seemed to follow him, no matter where or what he was doing. She agreed with Eve. It sure seemed that Lucifer and Detective Decker were supposed to end up together, somehow. How she and Eve fit into that picture she wasn't quite sure. But she had to admit, other than worrying about Lucifer's well-being, she was actually enjoying this adventure.
The former Mrs. Morningstar went into the kitchenette and grabbed the room service menu from the counter. "Dinner?" she held up the booklet and Eve nodded.
"Can we get a bottle of wine?" Eve shrugged her shoulders with a slight smile.
Candy nodded eagerly. "Trixie has Lucifer's credit card. Order whatever you'd like."
-
Why does she always do this? She puts herself in harm's way and her life on the line – for what reason? To solve a case? Doesn't she know how many people need her? I understand her job, I do. But she is frustratingly stubborn and determined and so devoted to her work that I often wonder if she sees anything else in her dreams.
The television was playing in the living room area but none of the three females were paying attention to the infomercial that was currently playing on the shopping network. All three were engrossed in their reading.
They had dined on a delicious meal from the hotel restaurant. Eve and Candy enjoyed a lovely bottle of red wine to help them relax into the evening. Trixie had opted for a Shirley temple with her very adult meal of shrimp cocktail, grilled chicken teriyaki and a tasty chocolate doused cheesecake for dessert.
They discussed a plan of attack for one more day of Lucifer-looking before making plans to get Trixie back to Los Angeles. After all she was missing school on top of everything else and her parents were not going to let this little adventure go on for much longer.
Before they got any further into the evening Candy and Eve both insisted that Trixie call Chloe. Both of the women could only imagine how frantic the L.A. mom might be with nothing but a couple of texts from her baby girl.
Trixie agreed, half-heartedly.
"Beatrice Decker Espinoza," Chloe began calmly enough even though she was using Trixie's full name.
"Mom, I'm fine," Trixie answered sounding very calm and to the point.
"What were you thinking?" Chloe continued knowing exactly what the answer was going to be.
"That I wanted to find Lucifer and make him come home to you… to us," Trixie added.
"Sweetheart, I've told you a hundred times, he will come home if he can, when he can. Lucifer has a mission and until he's sure it's safe to come back to Los Angeles, Baby, he just can't. He's not in Las Vegas, Trixie, Babe. He is somewhere that we cannot get to him. If I thought I could, I would've gone after him by now." Chloe's words seemed impassioned.
"I just wanted to help," Trixie countered.
"I know," Chloe answered. "I know." She paused for a moment, "So tell me what you've done today? And how was your flight. And…" Chloe hesitated a split second longer "where did you find that beautiful butterfly?" she swallowed lightly, anxious to hear the answer to that last question most.
Trixie looked at the lamp on the table where Diablo had lit and seemed content. The creature appeared to love being near the light.
"We went to about a hundred different hotels and bars," Trixie exaggerated slightly. "We met several people who know Lucifer but they haven't seen him recently. They promised to call the L.A.P.D. if he shows up. I was hoping I could tell you that I found him. Instead what I found is that I probably don't want to be a detective when I grow up."
Chloe had to smile at her daughter. "It's a lot of leg work. Not a lot of answers for all the work you have to do."
Trixie shook her head as she listened. "It's almost like algebra, a lot of work for a little answer."
Chloe laughed. "Good that you're realizing this now. Don't follow in my footsteps, or your father's."
"Oh, the butterfly," Trixie thought for a second. "Mom, you know the day that Maze and I came to Lux to get the computer? I went out on the balcony while you talked?"
"Yeah," Chloe recalled.
"There was a butterfly just like that one on the balcony of Lucifer's penthouse. It's really weird isn't it, that it would show up here, now?"
"Yeah, that's kind of bananas," Chloe agreed.
"And this one is sticking around our room. I mean, I guess when we close the door it can't get out, but it's not scared of us. It's like it knows me or something," Trixie admitted.
"Trix, I think it does know you," Chloe sighed quietly. "If we're being honest, there has been a black butterfly hanging around the penthouse for a while now. I've even talked to it. I kind of got used to seeing it here. But since you left, the butterfly here has been gone."
"Seriously?" Trixie looked again at the creature sitting on the lamp.
"Don't tell anyone, okay?" Chloe requested because she knew it sounded crazy. "But I think that butterfly is a sign from Lucifer. It's telling us that he's keeping an eye on us."
Trixie gasped slightly. "That's what I thought too! I mean, I saw it on the balcony and then it's here, too. It's gotta mean something."
Chloe nodded. It felt good to share that little bit with her daughter. Maybe she wasn't completely crazy after all.
"Mom, we have a plan for tomorrow already. Candy and Eve and I…I still think we might find some clues tomorrow that will help us know where Lucifer is. I still need to do this," Trixie somewhat pleaded with her mother.
Chloe sucked in a deep breath. "One more day, Urchin, then you come home."
Trixie heard her mother's voice, the name she chose to use and she felt them both in her heart. "Yes Ma'am," she answered simply.
"Your dad and I are worried about you and we want you home. Answers or no answers, Trixie. Understood?" Chloe sounded more like a concerned mother than she ever had.
"Yes, Mom," Trixie answered again and knew she'd better adhere to the idea of just one more day of detective work.
-
After the phone call they had each settled in with other distractions in hand. Candy was on her tablet looking over club business. Eve had settled in with a cheesy romance novel – Trixie could tell by the bare-chested man on the cover of the book. And the youngest in the room was again lost in the devil's journal.
I'm floored by the criminal mind - how these fools believe that it's their right to punish evil. THEIR right… their job. Idiots. That is my job.
This time the Broken Hearts killer gruesomely murdered cheating couples. The crazed man believed he was helping spouses by killing their cheating partners. Did he really believe it was up to him to choose which partner was the best option for the threesomes he chose to corrupt?
I couldn't even think straight. By the time the murderer unveiled himself I could only punch him in the face…for so many reasons.
First and foremost he was getting ready to hit my detective with a sledge hammer. That was enough to get me seething right there. How dare he threaten her. The man had already gassed her and Pierce. They were passed out on the floor of Pierce's dining room where they were sharing dinner – oh, that didn't help matters at all, even if it was part of the plan to catch the killer.
The only clear thought that I had the entire night was to take Chloe in my arms so she would know that I was there, holding her, when she awoke.
I didn't care if Pierce woke up or not. If the Douche had not come in to check on the Lieutenant, I would have gathered Chloe in my arms and carried her out of that house. Instead as she began to regain consciousness I had to leave her in the care of paramedics, Pierce – her current love interest, and her douche of an ex-husband.
Please forgive me, I didn't stick around for the revival reunion since I couldn't have her to myself. I'm sure Linda would say there's a lesson in here for me somewhere but it's hard to learn a lesson when everything about a case has my head spinning.
The killer made me realize that I couldn't choose Chloe's partner for her. That was slightly sobering. But I was still there. She must know I care.
Wait, what was I saying?
Oh yes, the simple fact is that I wanted to hold Chloe in my arms. I wanted her to wake in my arms and see that I was there for her. That I wanted nothing more… I want nothing more… than to have her wake in my arms… every morning, in my arms…
-
Trixie found herself smiling and biting on her bottom lip. Lucifer was such a sap for her mom. How on earth could he leave her after spending pages and pages talking about how much he cared for her. Either he was really dumb, really confused, or maybe he really was trying to protect her from some other form of danger.
Trixie thought about her phone call with Chloe. Maybe, just maybe, her mom was being as truthful with her as she possibly could. And maybe, just maybe she needed to follow Chloe's footsteps – as much as they hurt – and have faith that Lucifer would return to them if he was ever able to.
The younger girl marked her place in the journal and closed the cover. She sighed which caught Eve's attention and Trixie just smiled at her tiredly. "I think I'd better go on to bed," she offered.
Candy looked up at that comment and tilted her head. "You okay, Sweet Pea?"
Trixie nodded and reluctantly gathered her stuff together to go into the bedroom. "I think I just realized that we're not gonna find Lucifer. Not on this trip. But, I gotta have faith that he will be back."
Eve and Candy looked at each other with sad smiles. The sad realization was the hardest part to accept and they could see that on Trixie's face.
As the girl slowly made her way to the bedroom, the butterfly followed again. She closed the door behind them leaving the two older women to sigh with silent understanding.
In the next moment a short knock sounded on the hotel room door.
Candy and Eve both looked at each other wondering if they were hearing things. But when it sounded again, Candy went to the door, looked out the peephole and quickly opened it with a look of shock.
"Lucifer?! What are you doing here?"
The man looked tired, harried and less than well-kempt. He certainly had looked much better the last time she saw him.
"Is Beatrix here?" he whispered in an almost slurring British accent.
"Do you mean Trixie?" Candy answered as Eve joined her at the door. Lucifer nodded at both of them as though it should have been obvious. "Of course she's here." Candy completed her response.
The dark-haired woman grabbed Lucifer by the wrist and pulled him into the room so they could close the door.
Before either of the women could say or ask anything else, Lucifer swallowed roughly.
"Go get her," Lucifer again whispered but this time it was practically an order, "I need to take her home."
