Chapter 17
Lucifer led the way through the castle's imposing barbican to a large set of wooden doors, polished until they shone. Just before they reached the entrance, one door swung open to reveal a stout demon with three arms. "Sire, you're back so soon," Clisthert remarked. "Shall I prepare your bedchamber?"
"Not quite, Clisthert. You see, we have company." Lucifer stepped aside to let Amenadiel and Chloe through to the foyer.
Far different from the outside, the interior of the keep was walled and floored in yellow-beige stone that reminded Chloe of Egypt. Thick Oriental carpets and woven tapestries depicting various biblical scenes added softness, but the space was otherwise sparsely decorated. They followed Lucifer through a wide opening into a sitting room of sorts, then through to what was obviously his inner sanctum. A gleaming baby grand occupied pride of place at the center of the room, which also featured a large fireplace and several bookshelves along one wall. The demon butler unobtrusively lit the fire, which added its light to the candles and wall sconces already burning. One corner of the floor appeared to be the site of a recent fire, if the scorch marks were any indication. Another beautiful rug anchored a couch and set of wing chairs in burgundy leather, and it was in one of these that Lucifer settled with the book.
"All right, what is it you need me to read?" he asked. Amenadiel paced the perimeter of the room, stopping to investigate the small library Lucifer kept down in Hell.
"Here, I marked the page." Chloe leaned across the side of the chair, her hair brushing his face as she gently opened the volume to the right spot. She felt him smile and, checking that Amenadiel wasn't watching, quickly planted a smoldering kiss right on his unsuspecting lips before settling just out of reach on the couch. "Whenever you're ready," she said brightly.
"Oh but that's-I..."
"Are you not able to read it, Luci?" Amenadiel looked up and raised one eyebrow. "No wonder, since the books you have here are ridiculous. 'Sixteen Positions Sure To Please Her?' And 'Handwriting Analysis For Dummies.' Right."
"If you'll excuse me, I was just about to begin. Now," he adjusted his cuff links and slanted a look at Chloe, who was watching innocently. "Let's see. This appears to be a diary of sorts, or maybe...a letter? Here. 'It was revealed to us that Yahweh had created a terrible, eternal kingdom for those who would act against his children.' Hah, Dad, you sent one of your own children here! 'Despite Asherah's pleas to leave to man his own punishment-' well now, isn't that interesting, since Mom didn't say boo about the whole thing! Anyway...'Yahweh shall cast all sinners into it-but those who repent, and show true remorse, might be saved. Yahweh has named this woeful place Sheol-the World Beneath.' Well, at least they've got something right."
"Well, how did it get the name 'Hell' then?" Chloe posed the question as she tucked her feet up beneath her.
"Well, it's an ancient Hebrew word, and over time the O was softened so you had 'shell,' and then the S was dropped..." Lucifer shrugged. "'The gates to this kingdom are blackened with the blood of the wicked, and those within are doomed to relive each of their yetzer hara'-loosely translated, would be 'sinful impulses'-'again and again. As Yahweh rules in the glorious Shamayim and man on Ereth, there shall be indeed a king of Sheol, who is an agent of Yahweh. The SheolMelech shall be both adversary and servant of Yahweh, and must first pass...Nasah Gibor.'" He was silent for a moment.
"What does that mean, brother?"
"The Great Test. But Gibor...the word more accurately means 'hero.' Hero Test? Hah, surely not. I'm not certain this is going to be helpful."
"What else does it say?"
"'Only one whom Yahweh deems worthy will be able to complete the Great Test and shall reign eternally in Sheol-unless in his ultimate wisdom, Yahweh chooses a new ruler, one who is more worthy.' So, what? I'm supposed to just wait around until someone pisses Dad off even more than I did?" In disgust, Lucifer made to shut the book.
"Wait, wait, hang on a minute. There must be some mention of what is considered worthy," Amenadiel interjected just as Chloe stuck her hand between the pages.
"Keep reading, please," she entreated. "I think we're on to something here."
"Gah, fine," Lucifer responded petulantly. "Then we can be finished, and I can go and find the useless sod who wrote this drivel and correct every one of his appalling errors-painfully. Where was I? Ereth, yes, Nasha Gibor, blah blah blah...ah, more worthy. Oh. Oh! Well, this is interesting, at least. Apparently..." He was absorbed in the reading for a moment. "So it says that the test has three parts: first, the candidate must be be 'touched by the divine.' Second, he has to..hmm, forfeit, I suppose the word is, all love and charity towards humanity," he noted, avoiding eye contact with both Chloe and Amenadiel. "Anyhow, the third part is that the new king must turn his back on Heaven, and must perform some grand gesture to prove it. Hah, I suppose a celestial rebellion counts."
"Wait, that's it? That could be any number of humans, or angels, or even demons! Oh, you were right, Luci," Amenadiel threw his arms up. "It was not helpful. All of this was for nothing."
"Well, not exactly," Chloe caught his eye. "It proves that Lucifer no longer passes the test. He's done a lot of good things since being here, helped a lot of people-even your mother."
"True, and while he's still entirely too full of himself, my brother has proved himself capable of love."
"Might I remind you, I am standing right here," Lucifer remarked casually.
"And also, if these are truly the conditions, now we can take them back to your Father and prove to Him that He really needs to find someone else."
"What do you mean, 'we?' I'm certainly not going up there."
"Ummm, yes you are. Even if you just wait outside, it'll prove that you're serious, that you've changed and you're willing to compromise. Just make the effort-you don't even have to say anything."
"Annnnd why are you talking as if you'll be there?"
"Oh, I'm going. Wouldn't miss it."
"Well, I'm not taking you." Amenadiel assumed a defensive stance.
"It's not like you have to carry me, remember?" Chloe pointed at her back. "We'll just go together. Bring your sister."
"Mmm, still no."
"OK, guess I could always just kill myself accidentally, take a bullet or something. Shouldn't be too hard."
"No!" Both Lucifer and his brother were horrified. "Absolutely not," Lucifer reiterated.
"The only way to prevent it is to take me with you," she shrugged. "Now that that's settled, we gotta get home. I have this new case I'm supposed to be helping the lieutenant with; the mayor's really riding him about it, so now I get to be involved." She stood and stretched. "Hey, you should hang on to the book. Maybe there's something else in there that we can use, but you're the only one who can read it."
"Wait, what's this case? I find I very much miss our work."
"Oh, it's a gang shootout. Looked pretty obvious at first, but a couple of the dead guys aren't gang members, and we're missing at least one shooter. Once the CSU and the MEs have everything sorted, we'll run the ballistics and see if we can get any leads."
Amenadiel rose as well. "I'll give you two a minute." He retraced his steps towards the castle entrance.
"Chloe, I...I cannot begin to thank you, for coming here, for all that you did just to get in, and for not giving up on me."
"Lucifer, I love you, and you know I don't say those words lightly. We're going to get you home-we, as in, you and me. And at least now I can come and see you sometimes...if you want me to."
"Of course I want to see you," he answered gently, taking her hands. "But it isn't safe here."
"I think I can handle myself." She winked, then pulled him close. Even when she was expecting the kiss, initiating it, it still swept through her with all the sweetness and passion she'd felt the first time their lips met. She would have lingered longer, but Lucifer pulled away first.
"Now, if you keep that up, it's going to be a very long time indeed before I let you out of here." That devilish grin was back, accompanied by a courtly bow as he offered his arm to escort her outside.
"Are you, um, okay down here?" Chloe's quizzical expression and vague gesture were meant to encompass the lack of intimate companionship, and Lucifer wasted no time interpreting it as such.
"Ah, well, as they say, abstinence makes the heart grow fonder. I am completely fine, my darling, at least for now. Talk to me in a few years, and I may be finding things a bit...harder."
Chloe had to roll her eyes at that. "I'll see you in a few days. We'll talk to your dad, and then you won't have to worry about your situation." She flapped a hand in his direction.
"Much as I'd truly love to take you up on that, I'm afraid that's not going to happen."
"What are you talking about?"
"Well, I'm certainly not going up there! No matter what my intentions are, my Father still has a 'smite-to-kill' order out on me, and I'd rather not test it for something my brother's already tried and failed at."
"Well, that's why I'm going. This situation needs a mediator, and I happen to be trained in negotiation."
"Except you're not going, because there's no telling what Dad will do to you, or if he'll even let you leave, now that you've got-you know, wings."
"Lucifer, we are not going to argue about this. If you wanna stay down here, fine, although how you think that's showing you've changed is beyond me. But I am going, because I intend to see this through."
"I can already guarantee Amenadiel won't take you. Why can't you just accept that this is how it has to be?"
"Why are you acting like this? After everything we've gone through-it means so little to you that you just want to walk away? Back to all this?" She pulled away from him, crossed her arms. "Because what, this is the easy way out, right? You spent so long fighting for us to be together, and now you're going to quit, just like that? I fought my way into Hell for you!"
"I'm not quitting!" His grip was like iron, and the quick flash of red in his eyes was a clear indication that he was on the verge of losing his temper. "You think I want to be here, alone, for another three thousand years? You think I am happy about sending you away, about having to destroy the one good thing that's ever happened to me? Or what, you believe it pleases me to break your heart all over again? Damn it, Chloe." The red had faded, leaving nothing but a weary sadness. "I am doing this for you. Part of me wishes I could be selfish about this, but my feelings for you just won't allow it." He sighed and released her arm, stepping back. "The only gift I can give you now is your own life. My Father put you in my path, decided so much of this for you. It simply isn't fair. Take this chance, Chloe. Make your own choices, lead your own life. Please." He sank to his knees, took her hand from where it hung at her side. "I beg of you, please. Let it go, move on. You deserve the world, Chloe, and I can't give you anything but this." He rose and took a few steps toward the front door, gesturing at everything beyond it.
"Really? Fine. I'll just walk away, then-on one condition." She stalked over to him, stopping when they were less than an inch apart, and rose up on her toes to put them on eye level. "Just tell me you don't love me, that you never did. Say it, and I'm gone." Those brown eyes stared helplessly back into hers. Let's see if he'll lie, because no matter how hard he searches for a loophole, there isn't one this time.
"I...Chloe, I..." Lucifer stammered, searching frantically for a way out. "My feelings don't matter. What matters is you, keeping you safe, and Trixie, and Ella, and every other human on Earth. I'm not going to lie to you, but the truth is irrelevant."
"The truth?" She let out a short laugh. "The truth is that you're being a coward, and that you are being selfish-because if my feelings mattered to you, you'd help me fight. The truth is that I came here looking for a powerful celestial being, someone who would help me stand up to your dad-and here you are doing everything you can to get out of it. The truth is that you don't belong down here and it's your own guilt that's keeping you here, when a little bit of discomfort is clearly your ticket out. But as usual, here you are making the whole situation about you." Chloe shook her head, disgusted.
"I understand your frustrations, I really do, but believe me-you have no idea what it's like, what I've been through."
"So tell me." She crossed her arms, cocked her head to one side.
"The me you know now is not who I always was. Certainly I don't deserve most of the malignment humans throw my way, but I was never a perfect angel. I'm damaged goods, Chloe. I can't just get into another fight with my Dad, then expect a happy ending on the other side. Call me jaded, call me a coward-it hurts, but it's true. But never say I don't care about you. You mean more to me than...than anyone. Or anything." Uncomfortable with being so open, he tucked his hands in his pockets. "But my Father engineered everything, including our meeting. You have no choice in the matter—your feelings for me are just a part of some grand plan that neither of us will probably ever understand. So forgive me if I'm worried that something will happen as a result of a confrontation with my Father." He shook his head. "You are an excellent mother, but not all parents care about their children the same way you do. I realize it goes against everything else you've heard, but my Father isn't the doting, emotionally-available type. He even tired of humans after a few millennia. For all we know, he's working on some new grand experiment and that's why he can't be bothered!"
"Chloe, are you ready?" Amenadiel called from outside.
"Lucifer, look at me." She waited until his eyes met hers to continue. "I love you, and this-" she wrapped her arms around him, nestled in. "This is what I want. I'm sure of it. No one, and nothing, is going to change my mind. I know you're not perfect, and neither am I. But you've always been honest with me, so now I need an answer. Do you want me, or not?"
"I...want you to be happy," was his reply.
"Right." Honest yet evasive. "Do you want me, yes or no?"
"Yes, dammit, yes! More than I've ever wanted anyone. So much that it scares me sometimes. What I don't want is to put you in the middle of a demon rebellion and eons-old family drama, or to trap you in a relationship you want right now, but wake up one morning regretting. I also don't want to do anything that puts you in danger-and that includes going to the bloody Silver City."
"No one gets to decide how I feel, OK? You can't honestly believe everything we feel for one another is fake, Lucifer."
"And you can't honestly believe it's not!" He ran a hand through his hair. "And what's the point, if we can't be sure?"
"Whatever, Lucifer, I don't have time for this. I need to get back to my daughter and my job. We'll let you know when we plan to go visit your Dad, and hopefully by then you'll have pulled your head out of your ass and you can join us." She turned and started for the door, arriving just as Amenadiel poked his head in.
"You don't have to fly back on your own. If you prefer, I can carry you to the surface."
"I'm good, thanks. Let's go."
~~~
"Thanks for watching her, Linda. Trixie and I are gonna get going now," Dan repeated, backing slowly toward the door. Took me forever to even track her down, and now the school thinks I'm an unfit parent because I didn't know where my kid was. At least Maze isn't here...Gotta leave before this spirals further.
"Are you sure you can't stay a while? I feel like we really haven't had a chance to catch up. How are you doing since you lost Charlotte?" Linda asked, bouncing Charlie on her hip. Not good, apparently-between the shifty eyes and the sweaty brow, he looks like he's about to lose it. "If you don't want to get into it here, I have some time in my schedule tomorrow. Family and friends discount," she added helpfully, looking to sweeten the deal.
"Nope, doing just fine. Thanks again." He edged Trixie out the door and shut it firmly behind them.
"Daddy, what happened to your car?" his daughter asked, wrinkling her nose at the rusted-out hulk Dan steered her towards.
"I'm just borrowing this one from a friend-we're gonna go get a new car now."
"This car smells funny, and I thought Mommy was picking me up."
"Change of plans, Trix." He shut the car door and carefully coaxed the engine to turn over.
"But I wanna go hang out with Maze!"
"Well, now you get to hang out with me," he answered, his patience beginning to wear. "We're gonna go on a trip for a few days. Think of it like camping."
"Really?" She sat up straighter. "You mean I don't have to go to school tomorrow?"
"Nope, no school."
"Does Mommy know about this?" Trixie asked suspiciously.
"Do you know where Mommy is?" he countered.
"Duh, visiting Lucifer. She said I couldn't go, though."
"Why not?" Dan slowed down as he passed a car dealership, looking for a parking spot around the corner.
"She said it's too dangerous." Trixie crossed her arms and sighed dramatically. "I just hope Lucifer's OK. I miss him."
Dan was only half-listening as he rummaged through the glove box, coming up with a grimy screwdriver. Palming it, he hopped out of the car and went to work on the faded tag barely hanging on to the front of the car. "Why would he not be OK, honey?" Slimeball always seems to land on his feet. We'll see how being arrested for the bullshit at the Mayan goes for him.
"Because he's sad. He doesn't like it at home-he likes it here. But he had to go and nobody knows when he's coming back."
By now Dan had the rear plate off as well, and was eyeing up the service bays at the back of the dealership. He'd just settled on a smallish blue SUV when his mind laser-focused on Trixie's comment. "What do you mean, home? Do you know where Lucifer is?"
"Of course, Daddy, don't you?" She waited a beat. "He's in Hell."
"Don't I wish," Dan muttered. "Come on, Trix. Let's go get our new car." He motioned to her to stay quiet as they crossed the cracked asphalt hand-in-hand, sticking close to the edge, slipping through the shadows. Finding the doors unlocked, Dan handed his daughter into the SUV, then crouched down and swapped the front license plate for the beater car's tag.
"What are you doing?" Trixie stage whispered, rolling down the window.
"Well, when you buy a license plate, you can put it on any car you want. So I'm putting our plates on this car-and now it's ours." He tucked the original tag under the passenger seat, then silently shut the door and started the car. He rolled slowly out towards the side of the lot, waiting to see if any of the absentee employees would notice the vehicle leaving. Clear so far, Dan backed towards the chain-link fence, overgrown in places by an assortment of weeds and vines that wove occasional bits of trash into the steel mesh. As fast as he could, he switched the back plate while using the car itself as cover-and then, having avoided detection, he eased the vehicle over the final speed bump and out onto the road. Finally, something went right.
"Daddy, are you sure this is legal?"
"I'm a police officer, Trixie. Trust me."
"Where are we going?"
"Well, first we're gonna stop at Lux and pick up a few things Mommy left for us-and then we're going to a brand-new city. Tell you what- you can pick. Phoenix, or Vegas?"