(A/N) Starring Mark Pellegrino as Lucifer. Because honestly I can't imagine anyone else playing that character in anything, if you have never seen him act as Lucifer look it up on YouTube. ;)
Zadkiel led the walk through the woods, forming a protective cordon around Mike, Eleven and Hopper, the celestials had made their wings vanish to not arouse the suspicions of the locals even if their cloaks would do so anyway. Mike and El walked hand in hand, theirs arms swung lightly as they walked, the pain in El's back had subsided for now.
Zadkiel had explained that it would take more time for the Demon to open another portal to Earth considering the magnitude of power it would take to do so once more.
Hopper walked behind them with narrowed eyes even though he knew Mike would never do anything dishonourable when it came to his daughter he still felt a need to protective despite the fact she was Half-Archangel. Of course those were not the only things that Hopper's eye had caught. He had noticed that once the Angels wings had vanished the colours of their feathers appeared on their cloaks.
Red, Blue, Green, Gold, Purple, Orange and Black. Hopper wondered what the colours were for especially since the same coloured Angels would stick together. Hopper shook his head with a huff since when had this become his life?
Eleven had stayed silent for the time being, her head was awash with emotions, the tendrils of her mind circled around her protectively trying to ease her pain, somehow Selaphiel, her father, had sensed her future, specifically her future with Mike and in that moment she had felt him give her his blessing despite the fact that it was only a memory, Mike too was shaken by what he had seen and what he had felt.
Their hands remained linked like it was the only thing anchoring them to Earth, rooted to it by the sheer presence of the other, their whole world view was shifted in a matter of hours, learning that they were soulbound made sense in all honestly to Mike, he remembered the night they had found her in the rain. The magnetic pull he felt, the tingle in his body and the fact he could not stop staring at her like she was the most rare and precious on the face of the Earth.
Zadkiel was also immersed within his own thoughts, he wondered how they would defeat the Demon even with the daughter of the Archangel of Ice and Fire. It was a miracle such a birth had even come about.
Soon the tree's became less clumped together where the Byers household was spotted in the distance but it was clear there was someone outside, someone who Zadkiel had not seen in the longest of times.
There stood an Angel with black wings. The feathers were nearly coated in black save for a few streaks of white on the inside as well as on the tips of the feathers, this was the Archangel of Darkness. The Morning Star. And he was casually leaning on the side of the house, looking at his fingernails with disinterest. Zadkiel hastened his steps. And the Archangel looked up where a smile appeared upon his rough features.
"Zadkiel!" The Archangel greeted cheerfully with a little wave. Zadkiel's eyes lit up a ferocious blue as his blade slid from his sleeve into his enraged hand. Everyone present moved away slightly, giving him a wide berth as he strode to the Archangel with a single purpose.
The Archangel Sighed and flicked his wrist, the blade flew from Zadkiel's hand and into the dirt several feet away from him and Zadkiel could do nothing but glare. Hopper had noted that the Angels that had black streaks in their feathers and on their cloaks were knelt from the moment they had seen him, the other Angels however, didn't seem too keen on bowing to this particular Archangel.
"Lucifer…" Zadkiel hissed, Hopper immediately raised his rifle upon hearing the name, he knew who this was meant to be and if it were really the case then they were in the gravest of dangers.
"Where have you been Lucifer? We have spent thousands of years fighting the demon and yet you vanish for years on end. You expect me to bow down to you like a good little soldier as I once did?" He hissed, he was absolutely seething.
Lucifer's smile vanished and he slowly walked up to Zadkiel who starred up at the imposing figure of the Archangel.
"Watch your tone with me, Zadkiel" Lucifer said, his voice was dangerously low.
"I will once you have explained to me, to them, to us" Zadkiel said not backing down, Lucifer stayed his hand, too many Celestials had died already. Both of them knew it. There was a sound of a cocking rifle and both Angels looked up to see Hopper had raised his weapon.
"Lucifer? As in the devil?" Hopper demanded his aim never wavering. Lucifer merely nodded.
"Your bible often gets more wrong then it does right I'm afraid, they needed a bad guy to keep people In line, low and behold they chose the Archangel of Darkness" Lucifer laughed bitterly "Humans" he added shaking his head.
He raised his hand and Hopper felt his weapon's grip heat up to the point where he could no longer hold it, it tumbled out of his grasp and onto the floor, the handle was glowing amber. Hopper glowered at him, his eyebrows narrowed in fury.
"You can't be trusted" Hopper said. Mike and El had stayed quiet watching the exchange like a game of ping pong. Lucifer laughed hollowly, amused by Hoppers choice of words, Lucifer strode up the man, coming face to face with Hopper. Lucifer's face deepened angrily.
"You want to talk to me about trust? A man who has a dirty little secret himself, you wanna talk about it?" Lucifer said angrily his irises lightning up an ominous red. Hopper didn't let his gaze leave Lucifer's and he was pleased to see an undercurrent of fear in Hopper's features, not because of Lucifer but because of what Lucifer knew.
"You traded her freedom for the life of the boy sitting in that house" Lucifer hissed quietly enough so no-one else could hear, especially Eleven. "You betrayed her without a second thought, The only reason you aren't dead at my feet is because she cares for you and that you've been atoning for it ever since but betray her again and I won't hesitate to show you why I'm the Archangel of Darkness. Understand?" Lucifer said seethed.
"I won't, she is my redemption. A second chance that I don't deserve" Hopper said quietly "A daughter that I don't deserve, you have my word on that" Lucifer nodded, happy that the man was not as stubborn as he seemed. Zadkiel watched with narrowed eyes. Lucifer's irises returned to a natural light blue hue. His gazed turned to look directly at Michael Wheeler.
Lucifer walked up to Mike who's hair bristled as the Archangel approached before stopping before the two of them.
"Michael Wheeler" He stated Mike just stared up at him defiantly but the words that came out of Lucifer's mouth caught him completely off guard.
"You are not like most humans, who judge and belittle anything that is different to them but with her you embraced it, cherished it and even fell in love with it" Lucifer said quietly. Mike felt his face heat up at the mere mention of Love.
"And my heart breaks for you, it truly does" Lucifer said mournfully. Mike's mouth ran dry and he dared to speak up anyway.
"Why" his voice hoarse from the lack of saliva.
"Because you do know what being Half-Angel entails don't you?" Lucifer asked confused by the boy's lack of knowledge.
"No?" Mike Questioned, Lucifer's head arose to look at Zadkiel accusatory who held up his hands in surrender.
"I didn't get a chance to explain everything yet, if you haven't noticed we had our hands full earlier with the Demon's incursion force" Zadkiel said in defence.
Lucifer rolled his eyes, it truly did break his heart to have to be the one to tell him this. Lucifer rubbed at his mouth stressfully, he was a Warrior of God this was not part of the job description.
"Half-Angels share the same abilities and inherit perks of all Angels, one of which is immortality. Once she matures at a certain age she won't grow any older, but you will Mike and that is why my heart breaks for you, for the both of you" Lucifer said and Mike could see the sadness etched within his eyes.
And then the reality of it came crashing down like an erupting volcano, El would stop ageing but he would age and he would die but El would continue to exist without him, ageing and death would tear them apart from each other. Forever.
Eleven reached for his hand lightly taking it in hers and interlocking their fingers together. He felt it, they both felt it, felt the overwhelming presence of their soul-bond. It was intoxicating and addicting. Their destinies were intertwined for eternity. Both of them felt tears escape and cascade down their faces as they engulfed each other in a tight and desperate hug. Clinging to each other with shaking hands.
Behind them Lucifer lowered the arm that he raised without their knowledge so that they could feel the soul-bond, he was smiling sadly as the red hue of his eyes once again disappeared. Zadkiel wandered over to Lucifer and they both watched the two sadly. It was not a pleasant thing to watch.
"I was looking for our Father" Lucifer said quietly to Zadkiel.
"And?" Zadkiel asked although he already knew the answer.
"Nothing, I have been searching for years and nothing" Lucifer said despondently casting his eyes to the floor. Before his arm raised summoning Zadkiel's blade to him and handing it back to Zadkiel who took it back gratefully.
Zadkiel kneeled down onto one knee, his blade held out in salute.
"Can you forgive me for my lack of faith Brother?" Zadkiel asked, head bowed.
"it's forgotten little brother" Lucifer said shaking his head "your not my second in command for nothing, sometimes I need a good reality check" he said with a small chuckle
"WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?!" everyone turned to see an angry 5ft 2 Joyce Byers at her front door. Hopper groaned in frustration before walking up to her and talking to her quietly, her features soften as he explained the situation. As everyone looked on, even Lucifer regarded her with curious eyes. Before turning towards El.
"Jane" he said with a tender smile "I'm sorry about your father" Lucifer said crouching down to her level.
"It's okay" she replied tentatively, she still didn't know what to make of the Archangel of Darkness.
"No, no it's not, especially since it was partly my fault that he died, I should have tried harder to get you out of there, you're my niece, a niece that I'm damn proud of and I knew he would be too" Lucifer said sadly.
"How is it your fault?" she asked her brown eyes not full of hate nor anger but understanding, Mike nodded as well wanting to understand. Lucifer raised both his hands pressed two fingers to both their foreheads with a sigh and grimace
And once more they found themselves travelling through a nexus of images and colours memories that were their own and some that were not.
XxXxX
HAWKINS NATIONAL LAB - 1977
Lucifer and Selaphiel stood at the gate to the lab, a dead human lay nearby, his neck twisted 180 degrees, Selaphiel heard Lucifer chuckle to himself.
"oooh Selaphiel, I have never seen you act so cold, I'm sorta proud" Lucifer said chuckling hunching his shoulders in amusement.
"They have my daughter, your niece Lucifer, I'm doing what I must, anyone that stands in my way will suffer the same fate" he said, he raised his arm and watched as the metal fence began to melt before them, red hot metal melted, twisted and contorted until there was nothing left in front of them except for singed metal that had re-soldered themselves due to the heat. Both Archangels strode through.
"Lucifer do you feel it?" Selaphiel asked, feeling himself weakened.
"Yes, Angel Warding" said Lucifer who spat on the floor "How did these filthy apes acquire such knowledge" Lucifer felt the painful effects of the warding on his grace.
"They're using Jane, she has angelic spellcraft ingrained in her subconscious and their obtaining that knowledge somehow, Brenner has made his final mistake" Selaphiel snarled angrily. Both Archangels were moving their way across the car park when lights from all around started to shine down upon them, the light didn't bother them like it would Humans. They counted several dozen armed with various weapons. But these weapons had a strange aura about them.
No, Surely not…
"They dare?" Lucifer shouted angrily, his eyes blazing red, his wings manifesting into a black smoke like vapour as they clung to his back.
"Yes, Lucifer they dare, they dare to incite the wrath of two Archangels, not only do they take our kin, they desecrate our weapons as well" Selaphiel declared angrily, a blade dropped down from his sleeve and into his waiting hand.
The lab had melted down the blades of the Celestials, casting them into bullets that could be used against Angel's. one of the only ways a human could really ever best an Angel.
"Prepare to fire!" one of the nameless humans called out.
Selaphiel snarled as his own wings unfolded from his back, ablaze, wings made of fire. He spread them out to their fullest span, one or two of the guards gulped as they watched the wings of Selaphiel drip with molten fire.
"Open Fire! Fire! Fire!"
Both Angels flew into action, Lucifer leaped over one side, his wings propelling him with a mighty flap, landing in a group of humans, his own blade twirling at superhuman speeds, everything was a blur as Lucifer slit one throat after another. His red eyes glinting as he made each quick and clean kill. Black tendrils extended from the edge of wings, coiling themselves around the legs of two guards before hoisting them in the air. Before spinning them around and launching them across the compound.
Selaphiel leapt up into the sky at the right moment so that the two collided with his wings of fire, there were brief but painful screams as they were incinerated instantly. Selaphiel's eyes glowed an icy blue. As he launched bolts of energy, one after another at every human he could see, his aim was perfect. Every human unfortunate enough to be struck exploded in a cocktail of blood and bone.
The final body had fallen on the floor, Lucifer kneeled down and wiped the blood from his blade on the clothes of one guard. Selaphiel sheathed his blade and made his way up the labs steps, his wings becoming feathered again, blue streaks going from base to tip.
"Lucifer stay out here" Selaphiel said.
Lucifer opened his mouth to protest.
"Lucifer, I need you here to cover our exit. I can't let Brenner win, I won't let him"
Lucifer merely nodded and pulled Selaphiel into a one armed hug.
"Good Luck Brother" Lucifer said.
Selaphiel made his way to door and his hand lingered on the door handle almost unable to push himself through and he face Lucifer one more time.
"If I die or don't make it, tell Jane that I love her. look after her" Selaphiel said swallowing nervously.
"I will Brother, you have my word" Lucifer said smiling faintly.
And Selaphiel launched his blade out of sleeve and into his hand before disappearing inside the building and Lucifer let out a breath he didn't know he was holding in. Minutes passed, soon it was half an hour and then an Hour and Lucifer simply could not wait any longer.
"This is taking to long" Lucifer said to himself before making his way up the steps. His hand hovered above the door handle until he heard a high pitched screeching of something similar to white noise. Lucifer's eyes widened in a terrifying realization that it was his brother's screams.
"NOOOOOO!" he screamed as white light poured from every window and every crevice. The scream of his brother dying penetrating his ears so painfully, physically and emotionally and Lucifer felt himself being launched away from the Lab, so far, far away.
By the time he got back to the lab he found that he could go nowhere near it, Archaic Angelic warding glowed faintly on almost every edge of the building. It was only perceptible to Angelic beings and Lucifer could do nothing but fall to his knee's in defeat and weep.
XxXxX
El gasped as she found herself on solid ground, Lucifer watched her with careful eyes and she watched as a small tear escaped from Lucifer's eye.
"I could only watch as my brother's grace exploded and I couldn't protect you like I promised him" Lucifer said sadly.
"It was not your fault" She said sadly placing a comforting hand upon his shoulder.
Mike nodded in agreement with El's words, although he still had his misgivings about the Angel he could see that he cared for his family deeply and that included El as well. Lucifer took a deep breath and rose back to his feet.
At that moment Hopper came rushing out of the door.
"You guys better come take a look at this" He said quickly ushering them to the house.
The three of them entered the small but comforting home of Joyce Byers.
Mike and El looked at the drawing made a long time ago by a certain Will Byers. A drawing that was only drawn with a black crayon where a titanic multi-limbed creature sat above the tops of the trees and beneath the storm of that which it created.
Mike felt fear crawl through his skin as he instantly knew what it was.
Zadkiel chose that moment to speak up "That's the demon" he said gazing intently at the drawing.
"It's the Mind Flayer" Mike confirmed.
"Well Shit" Lucifer deadpanned
(A/N) Man that chapter was long, I feel like as I continue to write not only the quality of my writing improves the quantity does as well, especially dialogue, its probably my worst area but I think I'm improving thank god lol
As always guys review! And until next time, peace!