As Oriel was discussing the recent events with Michael, Lucifer was dealing with Chloe and her almost endless questions regarding the fae.
"Have you heard from Oriel?" Chloe asked in the hopes that Lucifer knew where Oriel was staying. She had a nagging unsettled feeling ever since Oriel had walked out the door of her home and Chloe wanted to find out that Oriel was alright and possibly that she harbored no hard feelings.
"No," he answered simply and paused for a second or two before continuing, "I am getting a very strong sense of déjà vu. Haven't we had this conversation previously?"
"Not exactly," she replied and went on to explain. "I don't like the way things were left between Oriel and I when she went wherever she went. Oriel is your… umm, good friend and I don't want her upset with me if she is going to be around on a regular basis."
"Detective, if Oriel is upset with anyone, it is me," Lucifer stated as he looked curiously at the detective trying to understand the detective's feelings. "I'm also sorry to inform you that I have no standing appointment with Oriel, so I'm not sure how much you will see of her."
"No standing appointment? Who says things like that? She isn't your doctor. It isn't difficult to understand why she would be upset with you – all the time," she shot back.
"When she does return, the two of you can kiss and make up. I get to watch," he told her with a wicked grin causing Chloe to shake her head and roll her eyes.
"You're really not concerned she left without a word to you?" she asked him deliberately ignoring his previous statement.
"Oriel is perfectly capable of taking care of herself; she has been doing that for a very long time," Lucifer assured the detective matter-of-factly. "Moreover, she is trying to figure out what it is that has been following me."
"And that doesn't bother you either?" Chloe inquired with a pointed stare. His seeming callousness regarding someone he purportedly had been involved with for over one thousand years disturbed her.
"What doesn't bother me, detective?" he asked in return his voice and face filled with exasperation.
"That Oriel is trying to determine what is following you while you hang around and attempt to help me during the day and then play piano and drink all night," she practically shouted at him.
"My services to the police department are invaluable – I do much more than attempt to help," he replied pointedly with a solemn look on his face. "I also have a business to run."
"You're using her," she told him directly with an angry glare.
"If Oriel did not want to do this, she would not; believe me detective, she has no problem saying no to me. In fact, I am quite sure that she takes great delight in it," he explained to her. A smile crossed his mouth as he remembered some of Oriel's more vehement protests. The calm even tone of his voice as he answered disguised the fact that he was beginning to lose patience with her questions. "However, we both realize she is better suited to this task at the moment."
"She is better suited than the devil?" Chloe questioned sarcastically.
"Seeing as how I presently have a bit of mortality to deal with, she is the better choice," Lucifer said without flinching. "Do you suddenly believe I am who I say I am? Oriel was more persuasive than I thought."
"No, I still think you either have a great imagination or are slightly delusional, I haven't decided which. I'm just trying to figure her out. Oriel seems so sensible on first meeting," she told him before returning to her questions, "She's stronger than you?"
"Very probable at this moment," he answered suddenly amused. He looked at her inquisitively to see how she would respond.
"So Oriel could easily hurt you if she wanted to right now?" Chloe inquired intrigued by this bit of information he revealed.
"She would not – ever," Lucifer assured her directly as a smile formed on his lips. "Of that I have no doubt."
"Because she is aos sí?" she asked secretly impressed with herself that she remembered how to pronounce the term.
"No, Oriel being fae has nothing to do with it," he stressed deliberately using the anglicized term. "She would not raise her powers against me as I would not use mine against her."
"Why not?" Chloe questioned. "Is she sworn to protect you?"
"No, that's what Maze is for," he replied smugly. "Oriel and I…have an understanding, shall we say."
"What are her powers?" she pressed wanting to know more.
"That, detective, you will need to ask Oriel herself," Lucifer replied with a smirk effectively ending their conversation.
Oriel and Michael found a table at one of the nearby pubs and sat with filled pint glasses in front of them. "Now, what is that requires a pint or two?" Michael asked as he took a sip from his glass.
"When is the last time you had some good ale?" Oriel asked earnestly. Her hair glinted unnaturally in the light of the pub garnering more than a few glances from the other patrons. "While you're visiting you might as well make the most of it."
"You've got the wrong angel," he told her with a smile.
"No, I definitely know the difference between scotch and ale." Oriel said slowly as she scanned the room. "This isn't exactly your brother's kind of place."
"What did you want to discuss further, Oriel?" Michael probed wanting to know why she asked him to get a drink.
"How did Amenadiel come to be responsible for Hell and its residents?" she inquired while looking the angel straight in the eye.
"He was given the task to watch and make sure there are no problems; as an experienced warrior, he is the most suitable choice given the location," he told her plainly. "Why? Surely you didn't think he asked for the job?"
"I know Amenadiel would never volunteer for that particular position," she replied calmly. "But given his words and actions lately, I do wonder whose will he is serving and hope he has not been left with total control over things."
"You're questioning his loyalty?" the archangel asked with astonishment.
"He does not hide the fact that he despises his brother and having to watch over Hell, even for a day or two in Lucifer's absence, must be like rubbing salt in a wound," Oriel stated without hesitation. "I think Amenadiel has found a way to serve his own need of punishing his brother under the guise of getting him back to Hell."
"They are not Amenadiel's needs, Oriel. Hell needs a guardian, you know that," Michael told her clearly. "If a demon or tortured soul should get out, the havoc it could wreak on earth could be immeasurable."
"I don't want to get into a theological argument with you over this, but Amenadiel is walking a fine line between doing your Father's will and serving his own," she responded intensely careful to keep her voice low.
"Oriel, you cannot let your own feelings for Amenadiel color the situation. He is doing the job he was given," Michael assured her.
"We all know that Amenadiel and I will probably never be best friends; however, his hatred for Lucifer is overshadowing his job at the present. Someone needs to watch him, Michael; trust me on this," Oriel said passionately.
"You think Amenadiel can't be relied on to keep things in line?" he asked her seriously. "Lucifer has never been what anyone would call trustworthy and he managed."
"Lucifer always did what he needed to do to keep order; you know that even better than I do," she replied with a glare. "Trustworthiness has nothing to do with it."
"What is your point then?" the angel asked with raised eyebrows.
"One did get out," she stressed and watched for his reaction.
"One got out?" Michael slowly asked in return taking time to mull over what she had just said.
"Got out or was let out," Oriel told him with a fixed stare.
"You think Amenadiel is responsible for it?" he questioned her ready to defend his brother.
"I know better than to make that accusation without proof," she answered with a slight smile and watched him relax. "What I do know is that Mazikeen has now set this something to watch Lucifer."
"Amenadiel is an angel and would not allow a demon to just wander away," he assured her. While he didn't show it outwardly, he was distressed by this information that Oriel had shared with him.
"This thing didn't come with them five years ago I can assure you of that," she replied.
"What is this something?" Michael asked wanting more information.
"Demon of unknown origin," Oriel said plainly. "I haven't seen it; only felt it."
"Felt it?" he inquired with a raised eyebrow.
"It knocked me over and put Lucifer on his ass, which I would find much more amusing if I wasn't so annoyed with myself for not sensing it first," she told him with a scowl.
"My brother ended up on his bum?" Michael asked in return, his voice filled with surprise.
"Yes…in the sand…in his bespoke Italian wool suit," Oriel answered slowly to allow her words time to sink in.
"That is funny," he replied laughing. "Are you sure Mazikeen is behind it?"
"She didn't exactly deny it," she said without hesitation.
"You confronted her about it? That may not have been wise," the angel told her turning solemn again. He liked Oriel and did not want to see her get herself killed in a spat with a demon.
"Spare me the turn the other cheek spiel," Oriel told him clearly her eyes stony. "If I had kept that up I would've been dead a very long time ago. The concept works a lot better behind silver gates than it does down here."
"Does Lucifer know?" he asked.
"That I spoke to her about it? No, and that is the way it will stay for now; Mazikeen isn't going to tell him and I'm pretty sure you're not about to either," she replied. "I gave her the opportunity to send it back where it belongs before I take matters into my own hands."
"You will have your own war on your hands," Michael said seriously.
"I will handle the demon should it come to that," Oriel said heatedly her eyes flashing.
"What makes you think Amenadiel has a hand in this?" he asked, pressing her for an answer.
"His anger towards Lucifer has always been unchecked; it has only gotten worse the past five years since Lucifer has stayed," she replied. "It's not a far stretch to think Amenadiel let a demon get out."
"Why tell me all this?" he inquired without emotion.
"Because Lucifer has always trusted you," Oriel answered passionately. "I know better than to expect you to take any action, but I would ask that you at least keep close watch and if something needs to be done, do it. I don't think any of us wants to see Lucifer die just to get him back to Hell."
