First off, I know I normally try to respond to each comment individually but the words just didn't come this time. I read over the comments multiple times and many helped me smile just a little bit.
Thank you for all of your kind words. They were little rays of light in amongst the dark.
This chapter is all Michael POV. We are still following along with "Spoiler Alert".
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Michael landed just as the corvette squealed to a stop. He quickly hid his wings away before any of the neighbors noticed. Lucifer jumped out of the car heading toward the house. Ella had been able to find an address that could potentially be the killers residence.
"Stay here." Michael told Ella quickly.
Ella nodded talking hurriedly into the phone calling for backup. Not that they would need it but protocol must. She had ridden with Lucifer while Michael had flown. Michael wasn't entirely sure why they weren't just flying but figured it had something to do with keeping normal appearances. Plus the way Lucifer drove it didn't really matter anyway.
Michael caught up just as Lucifer kicked the door in and entered behind him. The smell overwhelmed them first. The air was thick with the smell of rot and decay. The sounds of flies buzzing registered next.
"Bloody hell." Lucifer mumbled covering his nose with a grimace.
Michael tried not to breathe too deeply as he moved further into the house to look around. He noticed a wilted lily on the carpet and pointed it out to Lucifer. The twins shared a look before continuing down the hallway together. The smell only got stronger as they got closer to the door at the end. Michael looked around the corner first taking note of the blonde head he could see over the back of the office chair. He felt his heart pick up speed and shook his head to clear it.
Lucifer's fear spiked when he noticed the body. Michael felt it. Despite the smell he took a few deep breaths trying to calm himself down and gagged.
"Detective." Lucifer breathed out behind him. Fear and dread coated the words.
Michael moved forward slowly his own heart racing in fear. This couldn't be Chloe, right? Why couldn't it be Chloe? He couldn't think. Slowly, he reached out a hand and turned the chair around.
The air left both of them in a relieved rush. It wasn't Chloe. Of course it wasn't. Why would… Michael turned and dragged his brother out of the room by his shirt to push him into the wall in the hallway. He pressed close once again pushing Lucifer's fear down forcibly.
"Get it together. You can do better than this, Lucifer." Michael snapped pulling back.
Lucifer was breathing fast. "The killer doesn't keep his victims alive, Michael. We are running out of time." He said desperately. Lucifer suddenly looked thoughtful. "Time." He mumbled just before he pushed away from Michael and rushed out of the house.
"Lucifer!" Michael called racing after his twin. "Where are you going?"
Michael ran outside only to meet Ella rushing up the walkway toward him.
"What happened?" She asked. "Where did Lucifer go? Did you find Chloe?"
Michael grabbed her shoulders. "Ella." Her fear raced into him staggering him a bit. Michael gritted his teeth and pushed that down too. "Better?"
Ella nodded shakily. "Yeah. What did you guys find?"
Michael quickly explained. He finished up just as back up arrived allowing Ella to step forward to take charge. He walked away from the scene as the humans got to work but stayed by the corvette. Michael sat on the sidewalk and leaned back against the car closing his eyes. He felt a hand rest on his arm but didn't move recognizing Ella's soft touch.
"Hey, you okay?" She asked him concerned.
Ella's fear trickled into his senses. Michael took a deep breath and sighed. "I need space."
Ella gave it to him without question, thankfully. He breathed deeply a few times to help him focus. Fear was overwhelming him and he needed space to sort himself out. It was a new feeling to be so overwhelmed by others fears. He should have been able to tell Lucifer that it wasn't Chloe in that house. There was no way it could have been. The body had been there too long for it to have been Chloe. Logically, he had known that, but fear had overwhelmed his ability to think straight. What was causing this?
Michael opened his eyes when he heard Pete talking to Ella. He eyed the man, those strange uneasy feelings returning. What was it about that human that made his skin itch? Michael did not like him but Pete had yet to give him a reason not to. He stood as Ella approached.
"You okay?" He asked still watching Pete as he moved to talk to the person in charge of the press.
"Yeah, totally." Ella smiled at him. "I'm done here and going to head back to the station to work through everything. Want to come with me?" She smiled brighter when he nodded. "I'm sure you'd like to fly, but…" Ella trailed off walking around the corvette to the driver's side. She leaned over the door as Michael watched her curiously. "Score! The keys are still there." Ella was almost bouncing on her toes. "I've always wanted to drive this puppy. You mind?"
The fear that had been plaguing her small form was almost gone; not fully, it was still there but it was diminished enough in her excitement to drive the car that Michael could not say no. It was a blessed relief. Ella cheered and Michael couldn't help a small chuckle.
Traffic was insane, and Ella was no Lucifer, so traveling was slow. Michael laid his head back against the seat with his eyes closed.
"Everything okay over there?"
Michael glanced over to Ella. "I'm not sure." He admitted.
"You looked a bit overwhelmed earlier. Can I take a guess and say our fear is affecting you?" Ella sent him a quick worried look before turning back to the road.
"I deal with fear all the time." Michael grumbled sitting up to look out the front window. "I've learnt to deal with it. I don't get overwhelmed like this but I couldn't think earlier. I knew that wasn't Chloe but it was like all logic left." He ran a hand over his face before leaning his cheek against his hand.
Ella was silent as she maneuvered through traffic. "I might have an answer for you if you want to hear it."
Michael turned his head to look at her. "Sure."
"Other fears may not overwhelm you normally because you dissociate from them. They don't matter. Their fear is just another piece of knowledge that you get from them that has no impact on you and that you most likely don't really care for." Ella glanced over at him for quick confirmation which he gave. She didn't say it as though she was upset by the knowledge. It was just a fact. "But you care for Lucifer."
Michael opened his mouth but a quick glare from her had him shutting it back.
"No mientas. Not right now. I saw you guys earlier so lying won't work." Michael sighed then motioned for her to continue. Ella smiled softly. "You have also come to care for Chloe, and maybe, I hope, starting to care for the rest of us as well. It makes sense that our fear would affect you more."
"So, because I care, I feel their fear more intensely?" Michael stared down at his hands in his lap.
"I still feel afraid for others but I'm terrified for Chloe because I know her. I work with her and see her as a close friend. It makes sense that I would feel more fear for her." Ella reached over to take and squeeze a hand. "You care for Lucifer and Chloe, so being overwhelmed, its normal."
The fear for her friend amplified at her touch prompting Michael to take his hand back from her. Ella let it go without a fuss and put it back on the steering wheel with the other one. He looked out of the car. How could he help if he couldn't control the fears?
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They met back up with Lucifer in the conference room at the precinct. The Devil had not been idle and had a complete profile set up for their killer. His fear was an even level showing that being focused on something was helping. Michael could admit he was impressed.
Lucifer was indeed very rush in head first, guns blazing, but he could strategize, when he wanted to, and was very quick on his feet in tight situations. Add that to Michael's own abilities to see details others might miss and being able to make quick plans based on chance opportunities, and they were a force to reckon with. Michael found he missed those days more and more.
"Very nice detective work, Lucifer." Ella praised.
"Thanks." Lucifer mumbled. "But we need more than this."
Michael had already moved to look through what was on the table. "It's better than nothing, Lucifer. We'll get there." Maybe he had missed something earlier.
Before Lucifer could say anything to him, Maze rushed in. "I talked to the copycat. Well, talked…" Maze shrugged.
"Did he scream anything of value?" Lucifer jumped to ask.
"LilyMan likes to hunt his victims in restaurants and looks for 'windbags'."
"Women that talk a lot." Michael said softly glancing worriedly over at Ella.
The uneasy feelings from earlier were back. What did they mean? Michael turned back to the files in front of him. He could worry about them once Chloe was found. Perhaps he could go out on a limb and discuss them with her and Lucifer…maybe.
Ella shifted nervously. "Awesome." She stated sarcastically turning back to the files.
Maze glared at Michael. "What are you doing here?"
Michael only glanced at her before grabbing another file. There were more pressing matters than dealing with the demon. She sneered at him.
"He's helping, Maze. Leave him." Lucifer said shortly. "All the victims last made purchases at restaurants." He quickly handed the files to Ella who watched him with a happy and impressed smile. "Call the restaurants and see if any have surveillance."
Ella rushed out to do just that while Maze continued to eye Michael. He tried to ignore her but was steadily getting irritated.
"Did Klumsky ever meet LilyMan in person?" Lucifer asked urgently.
"No." Maze answered still watching Michael. Michael gritted his teeth.
"Are you sure?" Lucifer continued as though unaware of the tension between demon and angel.
Maze took her eyes off of Michael to glare at Lucifer. Michael sighed. "Five broken ribs, a torn rotator cuff, and 'A Small World' on repeat; yeah I'm sure."
Michael winced in sympathy for Klumsky. Damn.
"I don't trust you." Maze stated.
Michael looked at her. "I don't care."
Maze sneered. "Give me a reason and I'll beat your ass."
Michael smirked. "Bring it little demon." He goaded. She had gotten the upper hand on him before but she wouldn't do it twice.
Maze leaned over the table.
"You two can fight it out after we find the Detective, if you must, but Maze, remember my rule." Lucifer said pointedly even as he focused on looking through more of the evidence files.
Maze rolled her eyes before smirking at Michael. She trailed her eyes down his body heatedly licking her top lip. Michael shifted, not liking the way she eyed him, and her smirk widened. Perhaps he should have grabbed his jacket before leaving with Lucifer.
"I'll enjoy breaking you in angel." Maze purred the gleam in her eyes leaving no doubt as to her intentions. Pleasure for her and torture for him most likely. Michael felt chills run down his spine.
"Mazikeen." Lucifer snapped his eyes flashing at the demon.
Maze once again rolled her eyes, ignoring Lucifer's growl of irritation, and stepped back from the table. Lucifer stared her down for a quick moment before turning back to the files he had in his hands.
Michael subtly moved closer to Lucifer to get a different file. Sure, he had allowed the demon a little too close back when he was impersonating Lucifer. The image and feeling of Mazikeen straddling him and actually kissing him was not an event he wanted to repeat.
Mikael.
Michael jerked hearing his angel name in his head. He hadn't heard this voice in his head for so long. It filled him with immediate warmth that made him want to close his eyes and savor it.
If things go well, after our talk, we'll be the ones breaking you in.
Michael shivered as heat filled him spontaneously. Sweet mercy. He threw a look toward Lucifer who acted as though he had not just thought that little tidbit to Michael. Michael felt an urge to pin his brother against the table and to hell with everything else. It had been far, far too long since he had even thought of indulging and the kiss earlier had only served to ignite the long thought dead flame with vengeance. There was no doubt that present Lucifer could take him apart.
Michael was saved from his thoughts by Ella rushing back into the room.
"Only one has CCTV."
Lucifer dropped his files and took the small slip of paper from Ella. "Good. Maze and I will check it out."
He grabbed his suit jacket from the chair it had been laid on sparing a knowing look and smirk at Michael as he did. His brother had felt his flare of desire. Son of a bitch. Michael met Lucifer's look head on willing himself not to blush.
"Pete mentioned he had collected some old files concerning the Whisper Killer. I can go pick those up and look through those." Ella said breaking the tension.
"Good idea." Lucifer had got his jacket on and had refocused his attention quickly to the problem at hand. "Take Michael with you. No need to take chances." He basically ordered as he and Maze left the room.
Ella smiled at him. "You and me again. Want to fly this time? We need to pick up my car anyway."
Michael gave her a bemused look. "Now you want to fly?"
Ella simply shrugged. Michael sighed and motioned her to follow him. Once outside, and out of view of all cameras, he unfolded his wings and motioned her closer. She basically skipped to him.
"Chloe is still missing you know." He chastised amused even as he lifted her small frame up into his arms, positioning her so that the bulk of her weight was nestled on his right arm.
"I know, but how many girls can say they literally got swept off their feet by an actual angel? Chloe will not begrudge me my enjoyment."
Michael laughed. Ella was cute but it didn't stop the desire to sweep another off her feet. He wondered if he'd ever be allowed to.
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They had picked up Ella's car and drove to Pete's house from there. The closer they got the more uneasy Michael continued to feel and it still made no sense. Ella pulled up by the curb just down from Pete's house.
"Okay, wait for me here. I shouldn't be long." Ella turned off the ignition moving quickly to get out of the car.
"He doesn't look like he's home." Michael noted looking at the house in question.
Ella paused. "I have a key." A slight blush coated her cheeks.
Michael raised an eyebrow at her. "Well, go on then." He smirked at her playfully. "I'll check in on the others."
Ella nodded and left the car. Michael watched her enter the house before he called Lucifer. Lucifer picked up on the third ring.
"Find anything?"
Michael huffed a bit put out. Not even hello. "Ella just went in to get the files, and I thought I would check on you two."
"Just getting to the guard."
There was some static noise before Michael could hear them talking with the security guard. Lucifer must have left him on speaker then put the phone in his pocket. He listened in keeping watch on the house Ella had disappeared into. Should it be taking this long? She just had to grab a few files, right? There was more static and noise as Lucifer showed the guard the picture of the girl they were looking for before he apparently got put back in a pocket. Michael sighed with an eye roll. Did Lucifer even know he was still on the phone?
"So, have you ever heard of a demon getting a soul?" Maze's voice came over the phone.
Michael looked down at his phone in confusion and shock. Why was Mazikeen asking about souls?
"Of course not, that's impossible." Lucifer replied clearly distracted in looking for their victim.
"Yeah, I've heard that." Maze continued. Did she sound upset? "You fell in love. Amenadiel had a baby with a human. There's a first for everything, right?"
Michael noted that she genuinely appeared bothered. Did Mazikeen want a soul?
"But we're angels. You are just a demon." Lucifer dismissed the idea quickly.
He rolled his eyes. Typical Lucifer. "You are distracted brother but you shouldn't just dismiss her like that." He stated calmly.
"Michael." Maze growled clearly upset she had been overheard. "He's on speaker? Why did you not say anything?"
There was a curse and a shuffling noise. "I thought I hung up. I really am distracted apparently." Lucifer sighed obviously irritated at himself.
Michael sighed. "Damage is already done, Lucifer. No point in hanging up now." He looked back out the car window toward the house.
Seriously, what was taking Ella so long? He reached out to her finding her fear elevated but controlled. Was she going through the files there?
"I was only stating the truth, Michael." Lucifer continued.
"Maybe. Maybe not." Michael said thoughtfully turning his attention back to the conversation. "She does have a point after all. We all thought that angels couldn't procreate with humans and yet it happened." He did not want to touch on the subject of the Devil falling in love.
Lucifer scoffed. "You can't just grow souls."
"Who says?" Michael asked seriously. "I don't remember reading that in any handbook."
Lucifer scoffed. "What handbook? If Dad deemed us worthy of one I would like to read it."
They could wish, couldn't they?
"Too bad Father isn't taking conference calls at the moment; could ask him." Michael grumbled knowing that even if they did get a line through, they most likely wouldn't get a straight answer anyway.
He didn't have time to think on it long as Ella's fear level spiked through the roof. Shit. "I have to go."
Lucifer caught the urgency. "What's wrong?"
"Lucifer, look." Maze got his attention.
Michael didn't have time. Ella's fear reached terrified levels; she was afraid for her life. He was already out of the car. "I have to go. Now." Michael disconnected the phone and rushed toward the house.
Michael slammed through the door, taking only a second to register Ella pinned to the floor with Pete on top and his hands around her throat. Pete turned to look at him as he growled but could do nothing before Michael's foot connected with his face. Pete was sent into the couch then hit the floor where he laid still. Michael was immediately by Ella, not caring one bit if the bastard was alive or not, helping her roll to her side as she coughed for air.
"Ella, are you okay?" Michael asked urgently.
Ella nodded rubbing at her sore throat. She looked at him. "He's…he's…" She gave up and launched at him, her arms went around his neck as she buried her face in his chest.
Michael immediately wrapped her up in his arms as she cried. His wings unfurled and covered her, serving as a protective shield as he sat in the floor looking around. He noticed the box of files on the mantle. Pete hasn't moved. He noticed the strange light coming from the electrical outlet.
The scent of flowers, lilies in particular, filtered through the room. The pieces clicked together for him. Pete was the Whisper Killer. Michael cursed himself for not figuring it out sooner. He had smelt the lilies on Pete but it had been subtle enough that he hadn't connected the dots. Not to mention the startling wrongness about the man. That had been what was setting his skin on edge. Even unconscious humans put off some kind of surface fear. Pete had no surface fears.
Michael was sorely tempted to go digging, pull up the man's worse fears, his worst nightmares, and make him replay them, over and over.
Fingers started to gently card through his feathers before he could. Michael uncovered the small Latina furling his wings away again and rested his head against Ella's in silent support as he started to carefully soothe her fear. He had failed her and it tugged on him in a way he had not allowed for eons.
Ella had calmed down to just sniffles by the time Lucifer and Maze rushed through the door. Michael had jumped, tightening his grip on Ella, just seconds from unfurling his wings again before he recognized his brother and his demon.
"Miss Lopez!" Lucifer came immediately to them kneeling down beside them. Maze went to Pete.
"I'm fine, Lucifer." Ella moved back from Michael wiping her eyes. "Michael saved me." She looked gratefully at Michael before turning to Maze. "Is he…?"
Maze shook her head. "He's alive."
Lucifer growled. "Good. We need answers."
Hellfire danced briefly in his eyes. Those eyes promised retribution. Michael couldn't agree more.
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Pete was a psychopath. Of course he was. His soul had developed and matured wrong. All child souls developed and matured differently depending on multiple outside forces. It was never an exact science and Michael had never taken the time to fully understand just how souls worked. He simply judged them if called for and didn't need to know everything about them to do that. But it brought up Mazikeen's question once again. Human souls developed and changed over time; so could a demon potentially grow a soul as well? It certainly warranted looking into. Asking Father would be the easiest thing to do, He would know after all, but doing that would be like asking the wall.
Michael looked up when the door to the forensic lab opened to admit Ella before it slammed shut behind her. She leaned back against it breathing heavily with her eyes closed. Michael stayed where he was propped against the wall with his arms crossed. He had come in here to get away from the low level of constant fear lingering about the precinct. Everyone was worried about Chloe and the longer she was missing the higher the level rose. The fact that they had no more leads added to it.
It took a moment before Ella opened her eyes to find him watching her. She stared at him. One tear rolled down her cheek. Michael opened his arms in silent invitation which Ella took. She didn't cry, she just held him close. He ran his fingers through her hair in an attempt to comfort her.
The door opened again; this time more softly. Michael watched Lucifer enter the room silently shutting the door gently behind him. The Devil looked at them both with sad and fearful eyes as he motioned to Ella. Michael glanced down at the small human nestled against him and shrugged. He wasn't sure how to read human moods. He was keeping her fear manageable but that was all he knew to do.
"He doesn't know anything." Lucifer filled him in quietly. "He's a dead end." Residue anger lingered in his words. Odds were Lucifer had already taken most of his anger out on something.
Michael sighed. That was it. They had nothing else to go on. "Are we sure there was nothing else in Chloe's home?"
"Miss Lopez searched the place top to bottom."
Ella pulled away from Michael suddenly and rushed to one of her bags. "I forgot. How could I forget? Chloe's notes. They didn't make sense to me but they might to one of you. I hope anyway." She pulled out a folded sheet of paper and handed it to Michael.
He unfolded the paper as Lucifer moved to look over his shoulder. The address they started at was written at the top in neat script. The other notes were choppy and written quickly.
Same face…same voice…touch wrong…feels wrong…wings?…NOT MICHAEL!
"Wings?" Lucifer looked at him even more fearful. "Does one of our siblings have her?"
"Why would one of your siblings have her? What would the point be?" Ella asked confused.
"It's no secret that there are a many siblings who don't really care for Lucifer." Michael sighed. He had been included in that count. "Many still blame him for the war and various other things."
Michael blamed them both for the war; him for his angry, thoughtless words, and Lucifer for actually going through with them. It was the 'various other things' that burned Michael.
"Would they really kidnap Chloe to get to him though?"
Lucifer laughed bitterly. "I wouldn't doubt it for a moment. My own Mother tried to use Chloe against me."
Ella looked shocked. "No way."
Michael nodded his own feelings of bitterness surfacing. "Mother loved us in Her own way but She'd use us just the same."
"That's harsh." Ella said sympathetically.
Michael looked back down at the paper. "What does she mean by 'same voice' and 'same face'?"
Lucifer looked just as confused and Ella shrugged. "I thought that was weird too. If it is one of your siblings, is there one that can change their image or something similar?"
Lucifer shook his head. "I already told you we can't shapeshift. As far as I know I'm the only one that has a second face."
Something pulled at the back of Michael's mind. It made him feel odd, like maybe Chloe was trying to hint at something else. They had so many siblings had they forgotten one? Many had been made as helpers for the main group, offsets of abilities and powers, and Michael admittedly had pushed many of them from his mind. Another selfish mistake it seemed.
"Are you sure you guys are the only twins? Or that you don't have a triplet?"
Lucifer and Michael looked at each other before looking back at Ella. "We're sure." They announced together.
"Being twins was such a weird phenomenon, we would know if there was another set." Michael said.
"Not to mention a triplet. Could you image?" Lucifer continued looking like he wanted to image anything but.
"So you guys are the only twins out of how many angels? How come?"
Michael shrugged. "It was what made us so different. Father was insistent that every angel was completely different from the other. He was so insistent that we being twins have never made sense."
"There were even times it felt like He was upset that we were twins." Lucifer said bitterly. "That we didn't fit into His grand plan."
It was true. There were times it seemed like Father purposely set them assignments with the intention of separating them. It didn't work of course as they frequently found ways of sneaking back together and helping with each task assigned to them. Father never punished them for it, nor did he reprimand them, but he never praised their work either. It was Mother that frequently stated they completed their tasks much better together than apart but even She frequently seemed upset when looking at them.
"So how do we find your sibling?" Ella moved on noting the tension in the room.
"Without knowing which one it is…we can't." Michael started to pace. "Each angel has a different celestial signature."
Ella sighed irritated. "Your Dad really did want each of you different, didn't he?"
Lucifer scoffed. "Yes. Even though we are twins even Michael and I have different signatures."
Ella paced back and forth for a moment deep in thought. She stopped looking at Michael with a determined expression. "Can you trace fear?"
Michael paused looking tense and unsure. "Yes, in a sense. It's not easy for me to do."
"But you can do it?" Lucifer stepped closer to him.
His eyes held hope that Michael had no desire to crush. The fact that Lucifer was even comfortable enough to seek him out like this made his heart skip and his chest warm.
"In theory." Michael sighed. "I've never actually used it over long distances, not to mention the multitude of fears I would have to filter through. It could take me days to find Chloe, if she's even afraid in the first place."
It was clear by Lucifer's expression that he caught onto what Michael wasn't saying; if Chloe was even alive to feel fear. The odds were high that she was still alive, especially if this was a sibling trying to get at Lucifer, but there was still that small chance that they were wrong.
"Okay, we all know Chloe is bad ass." Ella praised her friend, either ignoring the tension or not catching on. "But even she gets scared sometimes. I'm sure being kidnapped and held hostage by a being that can easily overpower her and that she can't harm would be one of those times."
Lucifer fidgeted at the reminder. He was getting agitated and fearful again.
Michael closed his eyes tightly. "Okay." He grabbed one of Lucifer's arms looking into his eyes intently. "Just know that it may not work. I'll try, but it takes a lot for me to do it." He was already feeling nauseous and light headed at the mere thought of searching through all those fears. "It might be best if I went alone though so there are no distractions. It will give me the best chance."
Lucifer looked unsure, clearly wanting to argue the point, clearly wanting to accompany him, but nodded in the end.
"I still have my deals to call on if the need arises. I'll give you twelve hours to find her first." Lucifer stated.
He was choosing to give Michael a chance. He was choosing to trust Michael. Michael suddenly felt more determined than before. He had failed Lucifer once, there was no way he could fail his twin again. He had to find Chloe, no matter what.
