I got a call two weeks later from Tommy. The news made my stomach drop.

"Hey, look, Vince is back." He lead with. "I know it's probably a weird thing to ask, considering how we only really met and talked once, but I really did enjoy talking to you. Would you like tickets for our upcoming concert?"

I agreed, keeping my voice light and happy, and once I was done talking to Tommy I called Crowley.

"Hey, I thought you said Lucifer was at the bottom of the ocean." I left no room for pleasantries. This was serious. If Lucifer was back, I was in danger. Mrs. Tran was in danger. Castiel was in danger. We were all in danger.

"I do believe that was the information I was given." He answered, his voice tense. "However, the fact that you start off a conversation with me asking about the Devil is quite concerning."

"I just got off the phone with Tommy," I answered. "Saying that Vince was back."

"Back where?"

"Hollywood. They just got signed for a new album or something." I shook my head. "Look, this is bad news. I told Tommy I'd go so I can keep an eye on things," I wanted to continue, but Crowley interrupted.

"You WHAT?!" He shouted, any attempt at a calm pretense gone.

"I said I'd be there." I repeated. "I'm going to LA."

"No, you are not." He tried to tell me. "Lucifer can recognize you now, disguised or not. It's too dangerous."

"But it wasn't too dangerous for me to find and summon him?" I challenged. "Or to help you try and track him down?"

"You do realize Sam and Dean will be there eventually." Crowley tried, changing tactics. "And that myself and feathers will also be chasing this down."

"Just…" I took a deep breath. "I'll keep tabs until you all show up, then I'll bail. How's that sound for a compromise?"

"Absolutely not."

"Ah, well then, I guess we're at an impasse." I did my best to imitate his own tone. "Which means that I'll see you in LA." I took a page from his playbook, and hung up before he had a chance to argue further. Then I called for Mrs. Tran, and explained a rough summary of what was going on. "I'm already out for break." I told her after the major explanation was over. And indeed, it was true. I'd already taken all of my finals. "So classes are fine. But I've got to do this."

She didn't argue, just helped me pack when I got to the house. "Come back safely, alright?" She requested. I nodded, both of us ignoring the fact that this was a promise I may not be able to keep. But why dwell on that?

I considered just appearing there, for a moment, but changed my mind as I packed. It would be a nice (re: long) three day ride to get there, but I could get there. Plus, Tommy would probably find it weird if I showed up within a few minutes of him calling. I wanted the time to formulate a plan, and to appear as inconspicuous as possible. I rode out towards LA a few hours later, a backpack filled with clothes on my back and weapons stashed under the seat. My angel blades were strapped to either side of my ribs, carefully concealed by the fabric of my shirt and leather jacket.

It was definitely a long three days of riding, but it was surprisingly a relaxing one too. I was definitely more than likely going to run in with everyone else, but for the moment, I was alone with a dog. I crashed out like a homeless person, wherever I could, and left again early in the AM to get back on the road. I called Mrs. Tran each day to let her know where I was and that I was OK.

When I finally rolled in to town, I had an address from Tommy as to where to meet him. He apparently still felt awkward being alone around Vince, even though he was excited to do more music with him. I was just going to be a groupie, more or less. Just a spectator enjoying the ride.

I could do that. I really hoped I could do that.

So I met Tommy at the hotel address I'd been given, telling the valet exactly what I was told to say. "Diana Winters, one motorcycle."

"Of course, ma'am." They didn't even bat an eye at my choice of ride, much less that I didn't look like I should be at this hotel. I looked more like a wannabe grunge groupie which, I guess, works well enough for what I'm doing.

Great.

"Diana!" Tommy met me in the lobby, seeming just a little on edge. "We were about to head down to the studio and record. You wanna come?" Before I could answer, though, someone else spoke up.

"Tommy, dear boy," Lucifer walked up behind him, a giggling woman maybe a few years older than me dangling off one arm. He looked me up and down, unable to disguise the look of surprise and anger at my appearance for just a moment. "Who's this?"

"Well, since you got yourself a girl," he said. "I figured it would be fun to have one around for me, too."

"Fine enough." Lucifer nodded. "Personally, I think you could've done better."

And he walked right past me. No smiting. No killing. No Arctic circle again. I turned back around to the other rock star. "If you think I'm here to be your girl or something you're very sorely mistaken." I said calmly. Karma showed up beside me, suddenly, her hackles raised. I could see her just out of the corner of my eye, switching her sight from Tommy to Lucifer. Tommy raised his hands, shaking his head at the same time.

"No, it's not that, it's…" He shrugged. "I'm going to sound crazy if I call that Agent Beyoncé guy and tell him I feel uncomfortable around my partner, and I probably sound crazy to you too, but I figured it'd be a good shot trying to explain it with a normal person here to help in case of anything versus a cop. Plus," he raised an eyebrow. "Agent 'Beyoncé?' Really?"

"Fair enough." I agreed, watching Karma switch solely to Lucifer. "So I'm just here to be a witness, correct?"

"Absolutely."

"I can do that."

So I went with them to the recording studio, learned that the Lucifer groupie was named Roseleen (who was more than a little obsessive about the group), and watched as Lucifer blatantly walked out on everyone within the first twenty minutes of being AT the studio.

"Vince, so," Tommy sounded a little unsure as he spoke. "We actually gonna record or what?"

"Hmm." Lucifer pretended to ponder it for a minute, pulling Roseleen closer. "Not really feelin' it."

"Come on, man. The band's back together. We've got an actual recording budget!" Tommy pleaded. "Dude," he lowered his voice to a whisper. "Let's make some music."

"Music." Lucifer scoffed. "What are the fans saying about me right now?" Their manager took a second to read something or other on her phone before answering.

"They're tweeting about your drinks with Pam Anderson last night, speculating if you two are rekindling." She said. "And they're debating whether Vince Vincente is bae, nay, or daddy." Ew. Definitely ew.

"What the hell does that even mean?" Tommy asked.

"It means it's not about the music. It never really was." Lucifer answered. "You know, rock's not the reason. It's just an excuse... To worship, to adore. See, humans have always been desperate to put someone or something above them." He took a moment to glare at me. "And let's face it, God ain't cuttin' it these days. It takes a Kim Kardashian, a whatever Justin Bieber is." I fought back a snicker. He actually remembered what Crowley said. "A me. They're enjoying the ride. So should you. After all," this time he didn't bother with a lot of pretense as he stared me down. "Bad things tend to happen to those who stand in the way of a good plan."

Tommy left the room, dismayed about what Vince had said. I went to go after him, but I felt a grip like cold steel on my forearm. "Let's chat for a moment." Lucifer ordered, his voice taught as their manager moved past me to speak with the other man. "Roseleen, give me and Tommy's friend Diana here a minute." She complied, glaring daggers at me the whole time.

I was stuck in a recording studio, alone, with the Devil.

"Let go of me." I hissed, turning to face him. The proximity made my skin crawl, but I refused the urge to shudder. Karma growled at him, the sound reverberating throughout the studio, but he just smirked.

"Why? Not like you can do anything about it." I held up a hand, focusing on pushing him back.

Nada.

Zilch.

Zippo.

No effect whatsoever on the Devil, and damn he knew. He smiled, licking his lips. "Yeah, I've got just a little more juice now than before." He said. "Plus, I'm not my weak little brother. Heard he was still in mourning by the way. And strangely enough, Rowena didn't seem to remember you either. Now, tell me…" He pulled me closer, bruising my arm. "What am I missing out on that everyone else doesn't seem to remember?"

"Fuck off." I spat. I felt his hand heat up, and my arm started to burn like a cremation furnace. Karma couldn't hold back anymore, she jumped, but Lucifer just threw her aside. I watched as she slammed in to studio equipment, completely destroying the entire set-up with a pained yelp.

"You've got a bad dog." He commented dryly. I aimed a punch at him, but he caught my hand with a grip like iron. "And apparently, my little brother's girl is a bad bitch too, isn't she?" I kept my eyes steady, refusing to answer or give any ground, but somehow Lucifer caught on. "Unless… Unless you broke up with little brother, and made him forget. You made them all forget before taking Amara out." He said, the realization dawning on him. "All of them except Crowley, anyways. Now don't tell me you dumped my brother for that squatter."

I fought back the urge to puke for a moment.

"God you're sick." I retorted. Lucifer just clucked his tongue, letting go of my arm and hand. I took a few steps back, and rubbed them for a second. Definitely burnt and bruised. I healed myself easily, running over to Karma. She was alive, thankfully, but not in fighting condition. "Warn Crowley," I whispered, passing a hand over her. She disappeared, evaporating in to black smoke. I would've prayed it worked if I had anyone to pray to.

"So why make little brother forget?" Lucifer continued, now standing directly behind me. I stood, turning to face him quickly as I backed up the only two steps I could. "Why oh why, unless things weren't so good in paradise after all." He thought. "But he's too dopey mopey to have a problem with what I must say is a huge improvement to the normal human I blasted out to Russia. That leaves the Winchesters." He smiled. "Oh, this is too good. Your only family left in the world, and they were out for your blood when they found out, weren't they?"

"Shut up."

"Make me." He smirked again. "Oh, that's right. You can't."

"Your vessel is weak." I reminded him. "It's going to start decaying, and fast. I can feel it." In truth, I could. He'd powered up with something or other, but it was going to fade, and fade fast. I laughed at him. "You're still screwed! So why hang around in the body of a deadbeat rocker, doing jack shit but letting the groupie be a groupie?"

"You weren't listening, were you?" He asked. "I'm their rock god. They will do anything for me."

"So you're, what?" I asked. "Projecting your daddy issues out on to the masses? Trying to replace the love you want from him with the fake adoration of everyone else?" Lucifer cocked his head to the side, and I was thrown in to the wall behind me.

"I'm doing whatever I want, now." He said. "Dad's gone again, and I'm done with that damn cage. So feel free to stick around for the show, see what's going on." He reached in to his pocket, and pulled out a little hex bag. Something was wrong about this one, though. Something bad. "I haven't made one of these in a long time." He commented, tossing it towards me.

It felt like… I didn't even know how to explain it. It was worse than the burning on my arm, like my insides were being liquidated, boiled, seared, and put back together. Like I was being stabbed a thousand times with red-hot iron rods, or perhaps freezing ice picks.

I felt nothing but pain and nausea, and I doubled over as I finally fell off the wall Lucifer had held me on. "That's a witch bag." He explained. I vomited in front of me, and was unsurprised when I saw blood. "It won't kill you, no, but it will make you wish it had."

I spat out the last dregs of blood and sick in my mouth. "You think that's going to stop me?" I asked, looking up at him.

That's when I felt it.

The cold clasp of metal around my neck, with a leather leash leading up in to Lucifer's hands.

"Stand up." He ordered. I didn't want to, I fought to not, but I couldn't. I stood up slowly, shakily. "Wait, pick back up the witch bag, too, and place it in your jacket pocket."

The second I touched it, I wanted to scream. I kept it muffled as I put the thing in my pocket. I wanted to black out, faint, be out and done.

But I couldn't, because of the new necklace I wore.

"In case you're wondering," Lucifer said. "I grabbed this while I was still looking like your boyfriend. I figured it would come in handy, and it most certainly has."

"I hope they kill you." I hissed. "You know they're coming. I hope they destroy you."

"And that's enough out of you." He said. "I want you to remove your little magical Diana disguise, first off." I complied. I had to. I had no choice. "Secondly, I want you to stop speaking. You're only to speak when ordered to, and if possible only answer with nods or head shakes, capiche?"

I nodded, and flipped him off. He did the same to me, and I felt my middle finger snap.

"Finally, you're going to call Tommy and say you had to leave." I nodded, reaching for my phone with my unhurt hand. I did as Lucifer asked, hanging up before answering any questions he had for me. "Good. Melt your phone."

I held it up, and watched as the molten metal ran down my hands to the floor. I could smell my own skin charring as I did so, but the pain from it wasn't nearly as bad as that caused by the witch bag.

"Excellent. Now turn yourself and the necklace invisible." He ordered, stuffing his hands in to his pocket. I did, and he pulled me along outside the door.

"Hey, Vince, did Diana say anything weird to you?" Tommy asked once we met up with him.

"No, not really. Why?"

"She just called me and said she had to leave, then hung up."

"Maybe she just didn't want to hang around you anymore." Lucifer offered, clapping his shoulder once. "Anyways, Roseleen?" The giggling groupie attached herself to his shoulder once more. "We best be going."

That night I watched as Roseleen cut herself for him, almost killed herself for him. And he just laughed.