From the top of the stairs at Lux, Oriel looked down at the main floor and watched as Lucifer sat at the piano in the center of the large room. Once again she had hidden herself from him, although with the crowd filling every area of the nightclub she might have not been noticed despite her unnatural fiery hair. As Lucifer began playing, the lights dimmed and a spotlight shone on him. Like the rest of the mob of people who surrounded her, Oriel watched silently as he performed. As the last notes echoed from the grand piano, Oriel began walking towards the exit and disappeared.

A few hours later, the elevator doors into the penthouse opened and Lucifer emerged accompanied by a rather good looking young man and woman. The trio was laughing loudly as they entered the room. Oriel looked up from the book she had been reading and watched as Lucifer began pouring drinks totally oblivious to her presence. As he poured a shot into the second glass, he glanced up and saw Oriel curled up on a leather chair watching him intently. The couple turned their heads to see what Lucifer was looking at and suddenly went silent when they saw they were not alone.

"Oriel, this is a surprise," Lucifer said with a gleam in his eye seemingly unfazed by finding her there. "I was planning to stop by the villa later."

"I'd rather just get this conversation out of the way," she replied as she closed the book and stood up. "Bad timing on my part; later is fine."

"Now is perfectly acceptable," he said and handed the filled glasses to the pair. He then ushered them towards the elevator while telling them, "I'll catch up in a while."

Once the elevator doors were closed, Oriel walked towards the bar and watched Lucifer grab another glass and begin pouring again. "I didn't keep you waiting long, did I?" he asked with a wink as he handed her a glass.

"Sorry about interrupting; I forgot the fun and games never stop here," she said ruefully shaking her head and took a sip of whiskey. "He was quite dishy."

"There's always later," he suggested.

"I'll have to pass," Oriel told him and steered the conversation in a different direction. "I was downstairs and heard you play earlier; it brought back memories."

"London?" Lucifer asked and received a nod in reply. He continued with his questions as he eyed her carefully. He knew Oriel's feelings about being in the nightclub; she had always made them very clear. "You were down at Lux? You are quite the stealthy one lately, aren't you?"

"In certain places I find that it's best to fly under the radar," she replied while looking directly at him. "Coming here was a last minute decision."

"How fortunate that you packed appropriate attire," he said sarcastically, calling her out since he knew she had brought nothing with her. Oriel was wearing the same outfit of black jeans, a red brocade bustier and black jacket along with the high-heeled boots that she had donned many months ago when she visited and tried to talk to him about returning to Hell.

"Amazing what you can do when you don't have to wait in line at airports, isn't it?" Oriel answered without hesitation and drained her glass. "I've made my decision but before I tell you, I want to know something. It may change things."

"What cannot wait?" he inquired deliberately saying each word slowly as he watched her place the empty glass back on the bar. Try as he might to discern what her answer was and what she wanted to know, Oriel's face gave away no hints.

"Who did you tell?" she shot back in an accusatory tone, her eyes beginning to glow. As she had sat waiting for him, she had again gone over every possibility of what was responsible for her recent bad dreams always returning to few plausible explanations. Eventually, Oriel made herself pick up a book and put all her concentration to the words on the page to still her mind.

"To whom did I tell what?" Lucifer asked calmly wearing an expression full of confusion.

"As far as I know you are the only one – still alive – who knows," Oriel told him, chalking his question up to their usual banter and as a result, ignored it and the puzzled look on his face.

"Oriel," he said and then paused. When she raised her eyes to look at him with her full attention he continued, "The only one who knows what?"

"My past," she growled.

"And?" he questioned trying to draw out of her in words of what was in her thoughts. Lucifer did his best to keep his temper sensing the precarious nature of her mood.

"The dreams get worse around you. The demon attacks when I'm around you," Oriel related with a hint of a question in her voice as if she was still trying to make sense of it.

"You think I am behind those occurrences?" Lucifer asked her directly. After he finished uttering the words he angrily grabbed his glass and took a drink.

"Not directly," she said simply and with a touch of anger.

"Your faith in me is astounding at times," he muttered with a derisive glance in her direction.

"I know you aren't one to play games like this but, Lucifer, you are the only one who knows what happened; what was done to me; what I did," Oriel answered earnestly in explanation. Lucifer had promised he would never speak of her past to anyone but as she knew, the devil was the devil and he loved to talk. "I need to know if you told anyone."

"I told no one of your past," he declared with a solemnity that did not flinch from her gaze.

"Not even Mazikeen?" she challenged.

"Oriel!" Lucifer exclaimed in surprise.

"Answer the question," she replied sharply and shot an condemning and very angry, glance in his direction.

"Maze knows I see you on occasion, that is all," he told her, his voice surprisingly calm given the tone of Oriel's questions. "Why are you so insistent on the matter?"

"Because I refuse to believe it was a random nightmare," Oriel stated shortly. "Of all the souls to escape Hell, it is one that has ties to me…and consequently, you."

"They all want to get out, Oriel. It is not the Silver City or the Magic Kingdom," Lucifer said plainly.

"Not all of them want to kill me," she replied and motioned for him to pour more whiskey in her glass. He hesitated slightly before complying; not only was it uncharacteristic of Oriel to drink as much as she had, but her current disposition concerned him.

"You don't know that is Blasius' intention," Lucifer reminded her in a slightly imperious tone as she unsuccessfully stifled a sarcastic chuckle. Upon hearing her laugh his eyes flared for a brief moment.

"I highly doubt I will get a thank you," Oriel answered and then drained the glass.

"There are means that prevents them from leaving, so all your concern is for naught," he replied.

"Maybe when you were there that is how it worked," Oriel said as she reached across the bar and ran her hand along his jaw. Oriel's hand lingered against his face for a second or two as she continued in a sterner tone, "You're here now and your brother could care less about the means and methods employed by the devil. He will do his job as he sees fit; if the fae gets destroyed in the process so much the better."

"My brother?" he said thoughtfully as her peered at her. "Michael would not take measures to harm you."

"Michael would not do anything without express orders from your father – possibly in triplicate," she told him wryly as she got up and walked across the room. He smiled at her words despite still being a bit confused.

"Surely you cannot be referring to Amenadiel?" Lucifer asked as he followed her out to the balcony.

"Who better than a warrior angel to be sent to keep control in your absence?" she replied as she looked out over the city. "I think he's grown tired of it though."

"He told you that he has been charged with watching over Hell?" the devil inquired dubiously. Lucifer knew all too well the animosity that existed between Amenadiel and Oriel.

Oriel laughed, "Do you really think Amenadiel would share information like that with me?"

"That is why I asked," he replied with a sideways glance at her. "Oriel, are you certain about this?"

"Do you think I would say it – even to you – if I wasn't?" she answered with a pointed glance in his direction.

"It does explain why he wants me to return so badly," Lucifer mused. He thought for a moment or two about Oriel's comments during their recent conversations and came to a realization. "You think Amenadiel is responsible for allowing Ephialtes to meddle with your dreams and the mystery demon following me also."

"The thought had crossed my mind," Oriel admitted with a placid expression that was in direct opposition with the fire in her eyes.

"More than once, I would guess," he replied.

"Maybe I am jumping to conclusions. Amenadiel is not you; he will not directly contradict your father's plans," she told him. "However, I believe he would agree to almost anything as long as he doesn't have to get his wings dirty."

"He would not deal with demons Oriel; he cannot abide them," Lucifer responded surely.

"Getting you to return to Hell is his priority – by whatever means it may require," she argued in a slightly raised voice.

"Not happening," he stated matter-of-factly. His total lack of concern caused Oriel to smile indulgently at him. "Since I have answered your question, are you going to tell me what your decision is?"

"I am prepared to stay and finish this," Oriel replied. "You were right; I would have a difficult time staying behind the veil dividing the worlds especially while you still owe me dinner in Venice."

"I will refrain from saying I told you so," Lucifer replied slyly which caused Oriel to give him a slightly annoyed look while still smiling.

"This wasn't an easy decision. There were many things to consider and I tried to follow them as best I could; plus, I don't appreciate being pulled into other's disagreements," she explained.

"Yes, playing Switzerland seems to be what the aos sí does best," he answered sardonically remembering how Oriel's kind remained neutral when he chose to disobey his father's rules.

"If you want to hold on to that grudge, fine, but do not include me in it. I wasn't there," Oriel stated firmly knowing exactly what his remark referred to. "You do realize that there is a distinct possibility that when I send Blasius back to his well-deserved pit of punishment another will take his place?"

"We don't even know for sure it is Blasius. It may be just a dream," he said non-committedly.

"Lucifer, I know you wanted me to stay from the beginning – if for no other reason than to prove me wrong," she declared. "Are you prepared for me being right?"

"Oriel, I am able to admit when I am wrong," he answered as a grin slowly filled his face.

"Sure you are," she laughed and then turned serious. "You're looking forward to the commotion, aren't you?"

"It does add an extra bit of excitement," Lucifer confessed and abruptly changed the subject. "If I had told others about your past, what then?"

"I was prepared to stay behind the veil…indefinitely, no matter how difficult," she said without pause.

"Oriel, I told you I would keep your confidence," he solemnly stated. She could see a twinge of disappointment in his eyes as he spoke.

"I know that," she acknowledged suddenly feeling a bit guilty for doubting him. "But since I first told you we've never discussed it again over all the years; I had to hear it for myself and be sure."

"I have never…and will never betray you," Lucifer assured her.

"It's late; I should go. Your friends will think you threw them over for an errant fae," Oriel said quietly. "If I was harsh, I'm sorry. This situation is affecting me more than I would like."

"The villa…," he began.

"Is there for my use," she finished his sentence. "Yes, I know; I checked earlier. If I didn't know better, I'd say that you knew my answer long before I told you. Thank you."

"I cannot have you sleeping in a cave somewhere. It's uncivilized," he said with a smile. "I will stop by later."

"You do so at your own risk," Oriel replied somberly as she remembered what happened the previous night.

"I am more than capable of handling an errant fae, as I have demonstrated countless times over the past one thousand years," Lucifer responded fearlessly.

Oriel left the penthouse but did not immediately return to the villa. She reappeared in a corner of the main floor of Lux and was surprised at the number of people that were still there. With her presence still carefully concealed from inhuman senses, Oriel stood and watched Maze pour drinks and chat up a young man sitting at the bar. The fae's eyes glowed as she observed the demon and it took all her strength to restrain herself from lashing out at the bartender.

Lucifer didn't linger long on the balcony after Oriel went on her way. After a few minutes, he dismissed her serious mood as being caused by Oriel's overthinking the situation. He returned downstairs, glass in hand, to look for the pair he had originally brought up to the penthouse. From the top of the stairs he spied them chatting in a banquette and called out to them unaware the aos sí was still nearby. As Oriel disappeared, Lucifer caught a flicker and quickly turned his head towards the corner of the room where she had been. He was almost certain that he glimpsed hair that looked like a raging fire out of the corner of his eye. Seeing nothing, he turned back towards the couple and began talking again.