The demon Mazikeen watched from a distance as her King crumbled to the ground, falling hard upon his knees. A guttural grunt escaped his lips. His gaze was on the red arms that were so unfamiliar to him. Slowly, the burnt leathery skin melted away, revealing the shell of Lucifer's human form. She couldn't help but ache for him. Human emotions mystified her; it was something that neither of them had to deal with in the past. Or in Lucifer's case, refused to deal with. She didn't want to admit it, but their time on Earth had changed them.
The commotion from Lucifer's outburst hadn't gone unnoticed. Nearby demons started to gather in crowds on either side of the corridor. Word spread like wildfire of the King's meltdown. Many hungry eyes watched in anticipation of what the Lord of Hell would do next. Ready to pounce on his weakened state.
Lucifer, on the other hand, was completely oblivious to anyone but Maze, who slowly made her way to him. "Get up!" she muttered so only he could hear her. The demon grabbed a hold of his arms and attempted to bring him to his feet. "They are watching you. Get up!" She tugged on his arm once more, but he refused to budge.
"He's right, you know." Lucifer let out a defeated chuckle. "It would never work." His jaw clenched; he still hadn't noticed the hordes gradually inch their way in their direction from either side.
"Lucifer!" Maze whispered harshly. She drew her curved blades out of their sheaths, ready to defend her King.
"I was foolish of me to think that…" Lucifer paused when he finally heard the hissing of the demons closing in on them. The Devil rolled his eyes in annoyance as he stood up. "Don't you have something better to do?" the Lord of Hell thundered with his husky Devil voice, his eyes flashing red. "GO NOW! Or else I'll throw you all in the lake!"
The bloodthirsty demons scampered off, disappearing around corners, off to torture their designated souls. Only a few lingered behind, those with enough audacity to defy their King. Maze whipped one of her blades toward one of her brothers who was inching forward. The body dropped to the ground, and the rest scattered.
Lucifer watched as Maze walked to the dead body and retrieved her blade. She wiped the bloody blade on her sleeve before she returned it to its proper place. Then she took a deep breath before she walked back towards him.
"As I was saying, before we were rudely interrupted, I was foolish to think that it would ever work between myself and the Detective." Lucifer continued his conversation as if he hadn't just been attacked by his own minion. "What baffles me is why He would even put her in my path in the first place? Though I wouldn't put it past Him for finding new ways to torture me." The Devil stared off into the distance, his eyes glazing over. "Making me fall in love, then breaking my heart. Well done, Dad."
"Lucifer." Maze's voice was barely over a whisper. "He's an idiot. I told you not listen to him. He will say anything to get under your skin."
"Since the beginning of time," Lucifer scoffed. His jaw tightened at the thought of his father.
"Not your father." Maze rolled her eyes. "Cain. He's just trying to get back at you."
"But there is some truth to his words." Lucifer looked back at the demon and his face softened. "She's mortal and I'm…" He took a deep sigh. "I'm complicated." Maze opened her mouth to speak but he interrupted her. "Right now, I need to take a moment to grasp what needs to be done." He held back tears as his voice shook. "I need to think." Then he reached down into one of his pockets and pulled out a key.
"I don't understand." She eyed the key in his hands.
"I need to go." Lucifer gave her a weak smile.
"Lucifer, you can't leave now," she blurted, jaw clenched in frustration. His eyes met hers and she could see the desperation in them. "I just painted a bigger target on my back. You can't leave me here with them now," she spat.
"This is the key for the priest. Check in on him." Ignoring her plea, he placed the key in her hands. "I won't be long." Lucifer cupped her face. "Trust me." He gave her a weak smile, before unfurling his wings and disappearing into the endless sky.
"Chloe!" The Detective was pulled out of her own thoughts when Ella plopped down in the chair next to her desk. His chair. "What are you doing tonight?"
"Probably just going home. Heat up some left overs," Chloe stated plainly. It took her a moment to recall what she was doing at her desk. She glanced at the computer, at the half-written report, and started typing to finish her notes on the latest arrest.
"Nope. You are coming out with Linda and me," Ella declared. "We all need a good night out after the crazy month we had. Apparently, Charlie is teething and causing Linda grief. She went on and on about Charlie constantly crying except to eat. Amenadiel agreed to take the little one for the night. So, Linda is game for a girls' night." Ella spun around in the office chair. "Now, if only I could track down Maze. She totally ghosted me and everyone else I talked to. Go figure, the Case of the Missing Bounty Hunter." The scientist laughed to herself but stopped suddenly. "You don't think Lucifer and Maze, you know…" Her eyes went wide and she bit her bottom lip.
"Oh no. I don't. No. Not a thing." The detective scrunched up her nose, knowing very well what the forensic scientist was insinuating. "You know, Ella, I don't think I'm up for going out tonight. I just want to be home with Trixie."
"Come on, you haven't been out for the last couple of months. What are you waiting for? Lucifer? Clearly, he has some issues if he keeps leaving you in the dark. I like the guy, I do. But the dude really needs to sort out his priorities. Like, seriously, he doesn't realize how good he had it here. He is totally messed up. Don't waste your time waiting for him." Ella pulled Chloe out of her chair. "I promise you that your leftovers will be there tomorrow. Please, I think you need this."
"Fine," she reluctantly agreed, but only so Ella would drop it. "But I'm not staying out long."
"YAAASS. I will accept that." The perky scientist smiled. "Linda is going to meet us at LUX around nine." Ella pushed the chair under the desk.
"Oh, we are going to LUX?" Her heart skipped a beat.
"Yeah, big party happening tonight. Plus, the bartenders there always give us free drinks. Perks of knowing the owner." Ella noticed the sombre expression across the Detective's face. "Unless you want to go somewhere where Lucifer won't randomly pop up. Which he won't. I talked to the guys down there too. No sign of him."
"No, it's fine." Chloe flashed a fake smile. "We can go to LUX."
"Great. I'll pick you up at eight-thirty." The woman skipped off before Chloe could confirm with her.
LUX still continued to thrive even in the absence of the owner. Lucifer wouldn't have it any other way. There was definitely a full house when Chloe arrived. A long line led down the street, of mostly twenty-something-year-olds dressed to the nines, to pay a ridiculous amount of money just to drink and party. But they had to wait. This wasn't the case for Chloe, Ella, and Linda. Knowing the owner gave them the advantage of skipping the line and heading right inside.
"Chloe, I'm so glad you decided to come out tonight. It feels like we barely see you any more." Linda smiled; they were lucky enough to find a table not too far from the bar. Ella went to get the first round. "How are you doing?" the doctor asked, seeing the distant look on the Detective's face.
Chloe found herself staring at the elevator. "Hmm?" She was pulled back to the table by Linda's question.
"How are you?" Linda repeated.
"Fine." A lie.
"Sure, you are." The therapist could see right through her. "Have you talked to him recently?"
"Three weeks." Chloe let out a sigh. "That's just about five thousand years for him. But who's counting right…?" Her heart broke just from comparing the time difference.
"Woah." Linda let out an extended huff of air in astonishment. "That's a long time. If you ever want talk about it or anything, you know I'm always here, right?"
"Yes, and I appreciate that. But it's fine. It's fine. I'm fine." Chloe was attempting to reassure herself. "Everything is fine. Let's just forget about him tonight and have some fun."
"Okay." Linda agreed even though she knew that the Detective wasn't fine, but she wasn't about to push it tonight. The doctor searched the crowd and noticed Ella coming back with a tray of shots. "And I think it's about to start."
"Let's get this party started," Ella sing-songed as she placed the tray on the table. It bore fifteen shot glasses.
"Oh my God, Ella. Do you think you have enough?" Chloe gawked at the tiny glasses, which contained five different colored liquors.
"No, Patrick is bringing the rest." She picked up two with a dark pink liquid and handed them out before she picked up her own. "This one is called the Red Headed Slut. Bottom's up." The women downed the shots in fewer than ten seconds.
With that, Lady's Night had taken off. In no time the four other shots were consumed. Chloe was finally releasing all the stress that had been building up. It had been a while since she had even a sip of alcohol, so it didn't take long before the shots made her head feel wonderfully fuzzy. Then Ella pulled her onto the dance floor. Chloe pulled her hair out of the restrictive ponytail and tossed her hair while she danced in the middle of the swarm of sweaty bodies doing the same.
The trio danced for an hour, only stopping to refill their drinks after every three to four songs. Ella was already eleven drinks in. Linda was close behind with ten. Chloe had slowed down after the five shots and was nursing her seventh drink of the night.
Chloe glanced up for a moment and caught a glimpse of the tall handsome man on the landing above the dance floor. Strong hands gripped the rail, dark eyes scanned the room. He was stoic compared to the energy of the room. Her heart skipped a beat; she had to remind herself to breathe. She froze in the midst of all the dancing; the music seemed to fade into the distance and all she could hear was the pounding of her own heart. His eyes finally found her, and a smile formed on his face. Instantly Chloe pushed her way through the crowd, making her way to the staircase.
"Lucifer!" she called out, but her voice was drowned out by the bass of the music and excited patrons. She looked up to where he had stood but he was no longer there. As she searched, she accidently bumped into a large man who was carrying four beer glasses in his hands. "Oh, I am so sorry," she said with a gulp. The pints were half-empty and the man was soaked with the amber liquid.
"Watch where you are going!" the man yelled in her face as he inched his way towards her.
"Here." A hand reached around her and handed the brute a one-hundred-dollar bill. "I think this would be sufficient for your troubles." Chloe looked over her shoulder, looking up into the man's eyes. "Now leave the lady alone." A hand touched the small of her back. The brute flashed a grateful grin and headed back to the bar. "You should watch where you are going, gorgeous. Can I buy you a drink?"
"Thank you, but no." Chloe backed away from the handsome stranger, her hopes shattered. The man looked remarkably similar to Lucifer from a distance, but up close she could tell that it wasn't him. "I thought you were someone else. Sorry."
"Sorry to disappoint you." He flashed a charming smile. "Maybe I could be someone you were looking for. Lucas." He offered his hand.
"You've got to be kidding me." Chloe snickered. "Lucas, really? Lucas. This has to be some kind of cruel joke. Did Ella put you up to this?" The Detective searched the room for her friends, to see that they were still dancing. The man wasn't sure how to respond. "You know what, never mind. Just go, please." She waved the stranger off. The man slowly backed away from her, slightly confused by her outburst. He then disappeared into the crowd.
Chloe let out a frustrated sigh and made her way back to the bar. She leaned on the bar and waited for the next available bartender to assist her. She hid her face as a few tears rolled down her cheeks.
"Chloe, I need to talk to you." There was an urgent voice from behind her.
"You know what, I'm not in the mood." She didn't even turn around.
"Chloe, please. Have you seen Lucifer?" The unfamiliar voice spoke again.
Chloe turned and gawked at the middle-aged balding man in front of her and she let out a manic chuckle. "And who are you supposed to be? Lucas' wingman?"
"What? No! Ugh," the man said, sounding both confused and disgusted. He quickly glanced down and sighed. "Right, human body," he muttered to himself, and then looked straight into Chloe's face. "No! It's me. It's Maze."
Note: Chapter was Beta read by SailorChronos1! Thank You!