Chapter 23
Chloe's Pov
It was so cold. Doesn't matter it's the weather was hot in the heart of L.A. The dark night still felt cold. After the battle at the Mayan, and watching Lucifer transformed himself into his full Devil self, I was consumed by horrific thoughts of demons attacking me and Charlotte's death.
I called an ambulance to get help with Charlotte's body and safely travel the dead body to the hospital. Lucifer decided to drive us to the hospital, it was a quiet journey because we didn't speak a word to each other as we were still adjusted to what happened tonight. He covered himself with a shirt after he tore his original shirt when he turned into his Devil form and released his wings. I unleashed more tears down my cheeks at the thought of losing Charlotte, Lucifer didn't shed a tear but I could a deep sense of sorrow hidden in the corner of her eyes.
At the hospital, the doctors examined Charlotte's body and the stab wound formed in her cold chest. We all knew it was too late to save Charlotte as she died in that dark alleyway, but I rather have her found and secured in a safe place than left in a dark, dirty place. The doctors explained to us about her injuries
The doors of the waiting room were widened open and Linda arrived through, she spotted us on the other side of the room and rushed towards us with a deeply anxious look on her face and she loudly cried, "Where is he? Where's my baby?"
"Here" Eve stood up from her seating place and carefully passed the baby to his mother.
"My baby boy" Linda cooed as she grew a happy smile when Linda's eyes gazed own at the face of her unharmed baby. Linda shifted her stare up to Eve and returned a thankful grin, "Thank you."
Eve looked pleased that she helped us and fulfilled the mission on saving the baby, as her apology for what she has done in the past. Then the grateful look on Linda's face suddenly melted away into puzzlement as she darted her gaze from one face to another, before she faced us and questioned, "Where's Amenadiel?"
We all went silent at first, unsure of how to answer Linda, until Lucifer took a step forward and answered for all of us, "My brother is up in Heaven."
Linda's eyes widened in horror as Lucifer's words made her think of the worst. Lucifer quickly added to save the confusion, "He's not dead, but he just took her up there"
"Took who?" Linda asked.
Silence caught our tongues as we turned our gazes to the darkroom behind us, Linda followed our gazes and gasped at the sight of Charlotte laying dead and still. We still couldn't believe that it happened, that we lost Charlotte forever. Even though Heaven is real that Charlotte's good soul will finally rest in peace up there, but it doesn't decrease the pain arching in our hearts knowing that we will never see our friend again until death.
"Hey!" another voice echoed within the room, we followed the voice from behind us and spotted Dan entering the waiting room. Hearing that voice that was filled with hope and confusion, only cracks my heart deeper. He dashed towards us with a deeply anxious look on his face, "What happen?"
"Dan. Dan, listen to me" I stepped forward towards him after a long silent pause. I gently held my hands onto the sides of his arms and shared a sad smile that put him off. Making sure that his eyes were locked onto mine as my voice slowly broke into depression when I quietly spoke up, "It's about Charlotte."
"What?" Dan questioned but his puzzled eyes stared past over my shoulder and spot the door to Charlotte's room. He walked past me and the others until he reaches the room. When he caught the sighting of the dead look on Charlotte's face quickly strike the deep shock within Dan's body as he weakly slipped through the opened door entrance.
"Charlotte?" Dan breathlessly gasped. Tripping towards her, Dan fell to his knees when he reached to the bedside.
"No. No. No. No. No!" he cried echoed loudly within the room as his right hand softly stroke over her forehead feeling how cold her skin has become. Then, he held up Charlotte's cold hand and softly press the lifeless skin against the bottom of his shaking lips. Holding and shaking her cold hand as Dan quietly sobs with tearful eyes, "Charlotte. Please wake up. Please, don't leave me."
I crept closer until I stopped just outside of the open-door entrance, my eyes began flooding with tears as I covered my mouth with my hand. Lucifer stood beside me and gently hold on to the side of my arms while letting me lean my head back to rest on his shoulder as Lucifer rested the chin of his head on top of my blonde hair. I felt a frown forming on his lips as he and I watched poor Dan breathlessly suffers.
"Charlotte!" Dan loudly murmured, as his head leans down over in the side of Charlotte's body. His warm tears dripping down the wrinkly surface of the bedsheet.
After over an hour, we finally convinced Dan to let go of Charlotte and that it was time to go home. I decided to drive Dan in his car because he was still too unsteady to travel back home on his own, before I promised Lucifer to meet him afterwards at his penthouse. At that moment, we were all about to leave and began our journeys, but Dan wanted to stay at my place. His reason was that Trixie was there, and I believe just wants to be close to his loved ones, where he would feel safe and vulnerable.
At the apartment, I set up some men's pyjamas on my bed for Dan to wear when he goes to sleep. I decided to sleep on the couch tonight for Dan's sake of having rest from all that has happened. It wasn't before long when Dan gets dressed in his pyjamas and collapse into my bed and I shortly tuck him under the sheets. I know that it would take Dan some time to get some sleep since his mind will be focusing on Charlotte and how he will never see her again. It deeply breaks my heart seeing Dan like this, I remembered how my mum dropped to her knees and burst into tears when she received the news of my father's death, it took her mouths before she managed to have a peaceful sleep.
Once Dan settled himself in, I thought of seeing Lucifer at his penthouse to check on how he is. I know Lucifer is strong but he is still a man capable of feelings, and I know that he would be feeling depressed and despairing as much as any of us. I used my car to drive over to Lucifer's, during the journey while I kept my focus on the road ahead, I couldn't stop overthinking in my mind about everything that has happened. From when Father Kinley kidnapped me and he and Pierce nearly killed me and Lucifer, to savage demons almost tearing me apart and watching Lucifer transforming into his full Devil form.
Lux was packed tonight, when I parked outside and began walking towards the entrance where there was a long line of people waiting to get inside. The bodyguard recognises me as Lucifer has given me free access to Lux. The club was crowded with dancing people, usually I enjoy the music but the song they were playing was unsettling the mood because I was already dealing with some depressing emotions.
I entered inside the dark penthouse where it was still messy by the demons. I stepped over some books and broken glass bottles that were left on the marble floor. My eyes scanned across the messy floor, so I won't step on any broken glass or anything else. Until by the corner of my eye, I noticed a few envelopes with written words on the front as they were laying on the black surface of his piano. Didn't bothered to wonder about them as my sharp eyes spotted Lucifer standing outside on the balcony, his arms resting on the edge while he rested his gaze upon the city as it glittered through the darkness of the night. There was a heated, orange fire lighted in the fireplace on the left side of the balcony. I walked over to his side, expecting Lucifer to hear my footsteps and face me with a happy grin because we were safe and the demon battle was done. But he didn't, instead Lucifer just kept his gaze on the city lights up ahead and down below.
"Hey" I broke the silence in a gleeful tone.
"Hello" Lucifer replied back with a small smile yet he still seems very upset and quiet.
"So, because of the number of bodies in the Mayan. Eve, Maze and I will have to write a statement. We thought about lying that those dead people were part of Kinley's cult" I started a new conversation, to see if it could lighten the mood, "They also had some kind of drug that killed them in the end. And some were killed by Maze in self-defence. So, we're basically covered for the time being."
"That's good" Lucifer replied though he still didn't sound too happy, thinking that Lucifer is still upset with Charlotte's death. If I know Lucifer, and I do, I think that Lucifer was feeling guilty. Even though it wasn't his fault, I know that sometimes in sad situations, Lucifer feels guilty thinking he had some part in it. If I could read his mind, I bet that Lucifer was thinking that if Charlotte wasn't involved with this celestial life then perhaps she might have still been alive.
"Think Amenadiel is still up there, after he took Charlotte to Heaven" I noted with a small smile as I darted my gaze up to the sparkly sky. Wondering if Charlotte might meet my father up there in Heaven.
"Speaking of which, Linda thought a good name for the baby. Charlie, after Charlotte" I lightly chuckled, thinking that Linda has picked the right name for the baby and it honours Charlotte's sacrifice.
However, Lucifer was still silent after I gave him the good news, he didn't even crack a smile. I leaned a bit forward to get a clearer view of his sad smile, "Hey you're okay?"
My only answer was silence again, I understood that Lucifer was really distressed over Charlotte's death and the fact that he nearly lost me. But I wouldn't have thought that Lucifer would have been this quiet, especially to me. My hand reached over and firmly touched the side of his arm, but even my warm touch couldn't bring Lucifer's gaze to turn on my face.
"You know, it's over. The whole demon passion thing. Like what you said, we're safe" I kindly reminded him. He didn't answer straightaway, I see through his sorrowful eyes that he was remembering the horror, everything that happened in the Mayan. I questioned in a concerned tone, "It is over? Isn't it?"
"I'd say yes, detective, but I'd be lying. And, we both know I don't do that" he finally turns around and faced me. His eyes were dry yet filled with doubts and despair while his face was paled with fear, I could see on his half-lightened face from the glittery orange fire behind us.
"Tonight, we won, but we just plugged one hole in a very flimsy boat" he started but I already felt a cold chill down my spine, "Now the demons know I've no intention of returning, they'll continue to defy me."
"I see. So, what do we do?" I slowly nod, acknowledging the fact that this is a celestial serious matter and I want to help Lucifer with it as much as I can.
"It's not what you have to do" Lucifer corrected me, "It's what I need to do."
"Detective, it will only a matter of time before the demons will come back to Earth. Who knows when or where next?" Lucifer explained
"They might come back for Charlie again or…" there was a short pause between his sentence, as Lucifer frightfully gulped as he finished, "Maybe you."
I felt the fear poisoning his voice and his deep concerns about my safety, after all, we were almost overthrown by a pack of wild, bloodthirsty demons. I finally asked the question I would soon regret asking, "So, what are you saying? What is it that you need to do?"
Lucifer darted his unhappy gaze down to the ground before he locked his eyes onto mine again. I heard him gulping soundlessly before taking a deep breathe in and answered, "I have to go back."
His answer made my mouth as dry as a desert, and my mind became thoughtless as I had no words to describe how I feel. Fear was coiling around my stomach, twisting inside and out. I slightly shook my head before I asked, "What? You mean, back to Hell?"
"Yes."
"How long will you be gone? Like a couple of weeks or a month or..." I didn't manage to finish my sentence as I didn't want to extend on my guesses because if I do then that would mean what Lucifer is actually suggesting is true. I knew that what he was saying is true by every word, but deep down I wish it would all a lie.
"You were right. About the prophecy. We did get it wrong" Lucifer explained, and I shook my head again. Wanting to deny the truth that was spilling out from his mouth, but I continued to listen, "It is about Hell coming to Earth, and we may have stopped it now, but for how long? I need to keep them contained. They must have a king."
"You're not saying that…" I struggled to gulp as I developed a hard lump in my throat, I gradually managed to finish my sentence, "It would be forever, are you?"
My question made Lucifer glued his lips together as though he didn't want to answer.
The letters are still laying down on top of the black piano, I ignored them when I arrived but now the question of their appearances came back to mind. A thought existed in my head as I finally realised why they were written out, I quickly realised that they were goodbye letters.
I slowly faced Lucifer again and he could see the realisation in the centre of my watery eyes, which made him look ashamed. My breathing became quite heavy as I spoke with my voice breaks down in a depressed and breathes tone "You were going to leave, without saying goodbye?"
"I didn't know" Lucifer truthfully answered as his face seem very unsure then his voice sound more regretful and sad, "I didn't know whether to wait for you, or leave to save the argument because I have made up my mind."
"No. No, no. No, see, this is... This is what I meant, Lucifer, when I..." I took a step forward while I squeezed more tears from her eyes, "This is what we do. This is what couples do. We work things out together. Not leaving one of them far behind."
"But, this is something you can't help me with, detective" Lucifer argued and wrapped his hands over mine and pressed them together, "Because the longer I'm here, the more you and others will be in danger. And, I cannot let that happen."
His caring words soften the sureness in my breaking heart, I felt his strong love for me through his voice. Speaking of how he must go to Hell
I raised my voice, "But, you can't leave me."
"You can't leave. Not now, not after everything we've been through."
"Detective, you not making it easier for the both of us" Lucifer calmly advised.
"I don't care!" I loudly growled through my teeth.
"I get it. I do. Your duty to rule Hell. It was your home. It's your job. And, I understand you want to protect us" I
"But what about Charlie, or Amenadiel, Linda, Maze, Dan, Ella, Trixie… What about them?" I tried to reason with Lucifer about all the things he would miss deeply. Tried to make him remember all the happiness that he would have to leave behind. Then, I wanted Lucifer to know about who will deeply miss him when he's gone, "What about me?"
"I mean…" I paused, giving myself some short time to breathe more calmly. Darted my eyes off of Lucifer for a moment for me to think about this whole thing once one. But, the more I think about his solution, the more tears began flooding in my eyes. I glanced back at Lucifer's straight yet sorrowful face, and quietly cried, "We're never going see each other again, aren't we?"
"No."
That single word was powerful enough to tear apart my world, the perfect world where Lucifer and I could live in peace and happiness. No more disturbance from celestial craziness like a demon invading or anything else more weirdly dangerous. Just us together, with Trixie and the others together as a family. But, now that's never going to happen, not when Lucifer will be in the horrible place ever where I would never see him again. Now that is literally, Hell on Earth.
"No. No, please. Please… Please, don't" my desperate begs were sobbing through my parted lips. I rickety began leaning closer to Lucifer as it came to a point where I suddenly collapse into his body.
Lucifer quickly caught me in his strong arms and he wrapped them around my back, bringer me closer to his muscular chest. I think he sensed how weak my legs were as Lucifer slowly kneed us both down to the marble floor. When the cold surface touches my knees, I felt some chills running up through the bones in my legs.
"Shush… I know. I know. I'm sorry" Lucifer whispered as he softly stroked his hand over the top of my head. Placed my head underneath his chin and the side of my head against the centre of his warm chest, I could hear his own heart beating at a steady pace.
"Please don't go" I continued begging through faint whispers, "I need you. I love you."
After a few silent seconds in peace, Lucifer unexpectedly started to chuckle in a pleased tone like he suddenly found out some good news. Though I didn't see the bright side but didn't complain. Lucifer tenderly purred, "You know, we were wrong about something else in the prophecy."
My eyebrows raised by his suspicious words, I stayed still while listening for Lucifer's explanation, "My first love was never Eve."
When my ears caught those words, my heart largely skipped a beat and stopped me crying out more tears for a moment. Hearing Eve's name made me remember of things she did to us; seducing Lucifer, kissing him behind my back, becoming a bad influence and releasing Father Kinley from jail which led him to his death and raised a pack of dangerous demons. Then Lucifer said that she wasn't his first love, it puzzles me since I thought Eve was his first girlfriend, the first woman Lucifer had sex with. I was going to ask Lucifer who else would it be. Until, he revealed, "It was you, Chloe. It always has been."
Time froze and my heart was literally beating faster than usual, all I could hear was the flicky flames from the fireplace.
"And, you need to remember something, detective" Lucifer softly breathed against my lips. His hands covered over mine and raised them up and curved them together like we were praying. Around her neck was the bullet necklace, the bullet was caught in between our hands. Our eyes were locked "Hell wasn't my home. Nor was Heaven. L.A was my home. But, you Chloe, you are my home."
I didn't how but Lucifer speaking his true words, but I managed to grow a small smile that lightens up Lucifer's charming face. He leaned in and pressed his lips upon mine and kisses me softly. When his warm touch touched my skin it flooded my mind with great memories of us together, during our cases, when we're on our dates, our first kiss and special moments.
When he parted our kiss, I peacefully breathe out and whispered his name like a prayer, "Lucifer."
"Goodbye" he whispered, in that low tone of his voice sadly brought me back to life.
Slowly, he stood up and unfolded his large, white wings that amazed their beauty through my watery eyes. At the same time, I gain enough strength through my legs to raise myself while holding on hand on the glass barrier. I blinked at that second so I wouldn't miss my last moment of seeing Lucifer, my eyes scanning around his body, capturing every feature that's detailed on his body and on his charming face. His tasty lips that I couldn't get enough of, his nose where he used to smell my sweet skin whenever he kisses my neck, and his brown eyes sparkle like the night stars.
Lucifer gave me one last glance before he took a few steps back and his large wings began to flap. Lifting his feet off from the ground and into the sky, I watched him vanished as he dimensional travelled back to Hell. Once he disappeared from my sight, my body became weak again as I leaned on the glass barrier. My face was looking directly down at the buildings and streets below me, while I squeezed my eyelids to release more tears. Closing my eyes and seeing only darkness, I could see a smiley Lucifer in a burry version based before he gave me his last kiss. That blurry view only brought me a small feeling of happiness, until I opened my watery eyes and realised again…
I've lost Lucifer, forever.
A week later…
I threw a head back over the toilet seat again. More vomit was plunging right out of my mouth. After coughing out the last few sick from my mouth, I flushed the toilet and rushed over to the sink to wash out all the vomit that was still staining in my mouth. Linked my hands together and formed them into a bowl shape before turned on the tape to release the cold water. Once my hands are full, I raised my hands up and poured the cold water into my mouth. Swirled the water inside my mouth and tongue before spitting it all out into the sink. My body was feeling so weak after the vomiting, almost making me collapse if I wasn't holding onto the edge of the sink.
"Chloe? You okay in there?" Maze shouted from outside of the toilet.
"Yeah. Just…" I loudly coughed and spat some drips of water out from my dry mouth. I paused for a second before adding, "Just feeling under the weather."
"Okay" Maze replied before I heard her walking away.
My breathing became heavy as I was still feeling week and tired. Slowly turned around and closed the toilet lid so I could sit down and rest for a while. I leaned my head forward and rest it in my hands, feeling completely exhausted. My puzzled mind was overwhelmed by all the vomiting that was been happening over the last few days during morning time.
Afterwards, I walked downstairs into the kitchen where Maze was sitting at the counter eating cereal with vodka, probably in the bowl. I usually settle with a cup of coffee, instead I made myself a glass of cold water. Drank a short sip from the glass, refreshing the cleanness inside my mouth.
"You alright?" Maze asked, then she began sniffing as loud for me to hear from behind, "You smelled wield."
"Well, I was vomiting like a minute ago?" I answered, thinking that I might have some scent of sickness around my wet lips. I drank a short sip from my glass of water through my lips.
"Maybe" Maze replied in an unsure tone.
Then, the demon sat up from her chair, put her empty bowl into the sink and left to begin another bounty hunt. Leaving me alone in the kitchen while I start wondering about why I have been feeling so sick recently. It happens in late nights and early mornings, where I have to rush to the bathroom and vomit into the toilet. I've checked herself for the flu, a stomach bug, anything, but there was nothing that relates to those conditions because all I have been feeling was sickness. Until, I thought of something…
Pregnancy.
No, no, it couldn't be. Because, first of all, it's impossible, Lucifer is the Devil. I mean, how could a celestial being, whether it's an angel or a devil, impregnated a human. And… shit, Linda was pregnant with Amenadiel's baby. Then, that could mean that I could as well.
But, if this is true, there is one way to find out. I thought of going down to the store and pay some pregnancy tests. But, I didn't want to make people feel suspicious about me. I walked up to the door of my daughter's bedroom as I slide it open and saw Trixie laying on her bed while reading a book in her hands.
"Trixie, I'm going to the store. Do you want anything?" I asked.
"Chocolate cake" Trixie grew a wide smile.
I crossed my arms over my chest and returned a small smile, "What do you say?"
"Please!" she begged in a light tone.
"Be back in ten minutes" I replied before I shut the bedroom door.
Once I exited the apartment, I drove down the street and visited a small shop. Quickly bought at least five, just to check if they are all working. After I rushed back home, I got myself another glass of water from the kitchen and continued to drink lots and lots of water until I could feel that my bladder was almost about to burst. At the right time, I dashed up to the toilet, took out a test and carefully peed on the end of the stick. Once it's done, I laid the test on the side of the sink and waited.
I waited for a few minutes and during that time, I've been convincing myself that it's not true and it's not possible. Believing that I am just overreacting, that I am just feeling sick, normal sick. Doesn't mean anything.
Finally, the time is up for the results. The pregnancy test was resting on the side of the sick, I stood in front where I first had a glance at the mirror. Getting a good look at my own reflection, knowing that if I get a positive result, I will have to have to say goodbye to this own me that I'm seeing now in the mirror. But, if I get a negative result, then I would still be the same, feel the same, without any worries. Still, I wanted to give a farewell stare before I look down at the test. And I did and saw the result.
It's positive.
"What the f…"