Prologue


Chloe Decker's mother was a movie star and, as the little girl already knew, that fact sometimes brought stress to the family. Like on her seventh birthday when aunt Jenny came and told that she, Jenny, was nominated for an Oscar. Chloe had no idea what an Oscar was, but after that birthday Penelope, Chloe's mom, had a bad temper for two weeks. Both mom Penelope and aunt Jenny were actresses and while mom most played in over the top Sci-fi movies, aunt Jenny played in well received mainstream productions.

"Why did she get a nomination," Penelope shouted as soon as Jenny had left. "I never got any. It's not fair."

Chloe was eight and a half when the movie 'Vampires in Hell' premiered with her mother as Vampire Queen, the main character. After showing of the movie, giving some interviews and posing for pictures, Penelope with Chloe was in a backstage room where Penelope could change clothes and refresh before going home. Aunt Jenny did come and gave a condescending smile.

"Most of them only came to see you in that tight latex bodysuit. It required not that much acting to keep the attention of those guys."

Mom tried to ignore aunt Jenny and talked to Chloe with a little too loud voice.

"And the kind of journalists you see around here can hardly spell their own name."

Chloe noticed the tension in her mother's eyes and gave aunt Jenny an angry look. Aunt looked back with disdain. Chloe turned, considering to give aunt a kick against the shin although het mother might not approve.

"Penelope Decker," a voice came from the doorway.

Chloe, mom and aunt all three looked and saw a tall man, handsome, dark hair, three-piece suit and a London accent. Next to him stood a woman, a brunette with over the knee boots and a top that hardly covered her breasts.

"That's me," Penelope answered.

"I know. I know. I just saw the movie and I came to tell you I enjoyed it."

Penelope smiled. "And who are you, you handsome devil."

"Indeed, I am the devil. But call me Lucifer. Lucifer Morningstar. I would like to have the autograph of my favorite actress."

"The devil?" Jenny sneered. "Than you should be in hell. That's your level of fans, Penelope. A fool thinking he is the devil."

Lucifer made two steps to Jenny. His eyes turned into red pools of fire. Blisters and scabs appeared on red-burned flesh all over his head. Jenny recoiled and screamed. It lasted much less than a second, the next moment his head showed the handsome, dark haired gentlemen again. "I am the devil."

He turned to Penelope and made a small bow. "Please don't be afraid. I will harm neither you nor your urchin. I really only left hell to see your performance in the movie and I will go back in a minute."

Penelope stared at him, then looked at the trembling Jenny. A smile appeared on her face. "The devil leaves hell to see me in a movie?"

"I did, Penelope. Together with Mazikeen, my first lieutenant," He gestured to the brunette behind him. "And I repeat, not to do you or your urchin any harm. I only come for your autograph."

Chloe looked at her mother and noticed the huge smile on mom's face while she looked at aunt Jenny. Penelope put her signature. Lucifer gave her a kiss on the hand and left.

"How is that compared to an Oscar nomination, Jenny?" Penelope asked.


Aunt Jenny got a second Oscar nomination when Chloe was twelve. Penelope called Jenny when she heard of it: "Glad for you, Jenny. I really am. Well. Although it's not so special, we both know. Dozens of actresses have had Oscar nominations. There are other events that are much more unique, don't you agree." For most people the devil was a symbol for evil, Chloe was willing to believe he was, but he also was the one that gave her mother a weapon against aunt Jenny.


The week after John Decker's funeral Penelope took Chloe to a bar. "I was here nine months before you were born," she said. There was a wall with pictures and Penelope searched for one. "Here." She pointed. Chloe looked and saw a younger version of her mother with a big, muscular Afro-American man.

"Who is that?"

"He introduced himself as Amenadiel. I think it was a stage name, he said he was God's greatest warrior. You know the kind of people that walk around in LA. Your dad and I had given up getting children, but he sat on my table and told me the Lord wanted me to have a baby."

"Mom?" Chloe shivered. "Do you mean you slept with him?"

"Of course not, pumpkin. John is your father. But it is true that a month later I found out I was expecting. From John, mind you! I never told John about this Amenadiel, just as I never told him of my dream that the devil came to visit the premiere of 'Vampires in Hell'."

"Dream?" Chloe said. Her mother had never ever talked with her about the devil's visit. "But mom, I've seen them also. Lucifer Morningstar and Mazikeen. And maybe this Amenadiel is also a devil."

"Jenny, I and you all had the same dream. I do not want to believe in God or in devils, so it was a dream."

Chloe looked at her mother for a moment, then shook her head and took the picture from the wall.


Chloe entered the crime scene with a stubborn expression on her face. It had taken a full hour of discussion with lieutenant Olivia Monroe to get this case. Her – almost ex – husband was already there: "Want to hear what I've got so far?" Dan asked.

"Lieutenant said this is my case."

"Yeah, Chlo, it is your case. But try not to take too much time. It's an easy one. That's our bad guy, Eddie Deacon, a low level drug dealer. Obviously drug-related. Dead girl is Delilah McCord, famous singer, but career on the decline. She probably owed him a bunch of cash, but she's not selling out stadiums these days."

"How do you know he's low level?" she asked.

"Look at his car."

"Did you look at his watch. Not cheap."

"Probably fake," Dan reacted. "Listen, Chlo. There's gonna be a lot of attention on this one. Don't pick it too hard. Not after Palmetto."

"I asked for this case because of Palmetto." She shrugged. "Any witnesses?"

"The owner of this club. Talked to him already. Weird guy, playing the piano all the time."

She took the paper with Dan's notes, but didn't look at them. "I want to talk to him myself."

"Good luck. I tried. He thinks he is the devil. I laughed at him in his face and he hadn't the guts to react. LA is full of cos players and method actors that never made it. This Lucifer Morningstar is just the next one."

She froze and looked at the notes. There was the name: Lucifer Morningstar.


It was dusk in the club. A man, probably the owner, probably the devil, was indeed playing the piano, his back to Chloe. She approached the man and got a look at his face from the site. She stand still and stared. It was him. It was almost thirty years ago, but that was his face.

Should she run away? According to what she had read he was the source of all evil, but she remembered how happy her mom was after his visit. He hadn't done mom or her any harm and here there were many witnesses: some people behind the bar, a colleague from CSI taking pictures and the cleaners. She needed to solve this case. Dan had laughed at him and he hadn't reacted. As long as she didn't reveal she knew what he was, she would be safe. She had been an actress, she could pretend she didn't believe stories about the devil.

She swallowed and walked towards the piano.


Stage is set. We start close to the canon, but with Chloe knowing, her reactions will be different. And how will Lucifer react if Chloe knows more than he does.