The latch clicked behind him. Momentarily, Lucifer stood in the driveway, taking in a deep breath. The air here was different. Lighter. Pure. Now that he was here, he found himself questioning his decision again. Was it worth missing out on a life? A real life with his daughter and Chloe. Would they have married? Could there have been more children in their future? Where was Trixie now? The thought rattled him. He had never forgotten about that little urchin, but only now did he think of the consequences of his abrupt departure. Dan wasn't even gone a year, and Lucifer walked out on her too.
Earth had been a reprieve once. An escape from his literal hell. Every time he returned to his throne, he had missed the sex and partying and returning had been the light at the end of his tunnel. But now, he realised, earth was his Hell Loop. Hell had preserved his memory of those he'd left. But seeing Linda, the lines of her life mapped across her skin, he was finally confronted with the reality of his choice. Time had moved on without him. Life had passed him by. Perhaps Eve was right and he was the fool. Immortality was a curse.
He found himself standing at her door. He couldn't recall walking here. His wretched thoughts sent him into autopilot. Thunder rolled around him and his matted hair dripped onto his face, dribbling down his neck, soaking his shirt. Lucifer caught a glimpse of his Corvette in the pane of glass on the door. He turned. The sleek black body stared back at him, welcoming.
As he stepped inside there was an antiseptic smell, hospital like. Everything else was at it had been, which brought him some comfort. The countertop strewn with everyday, house-hold items, Trixie's childhood drawings still plastered against the walls to conceal Maze's antics. But there were some new additions. Framed photos of a baby girl. His fingers grazed the frames capturing his daughter. A very pregnant Chloe smiling with Maze, Chloe with a tiny bundle in her arms, Rory's first steps, Rory bearing a toothless grin and her first day of school. I'd hate me too, he realised.
And then, a faint beeping pierced the silence. Turning on his heels, he saw her. Hooked up to so many machines, feeble hands clutching the pristine sheets. Her hands were like glass with dark blue protruding veins trying to break free. Her nimble fingers wrapped around the sheets looked like they could shatter from her grip alone. Lucifer moved to her bedside, slipping his hand into hers. This was wrong. What had he done?
The beeping intensified, ripping through him. Every beep was a march to the death, stalling his heart, fearing he was already too late.
"Am I dead?" A voice croaked. It wasn't the voice he remembered, now feeble and coarse with age.
"No love," he smiled, moving to caress her hair. "You're still very much alive."
"You're here." He couldn't tell whether it was a question, accusation, something else?
"I never…" He choked back the tears. "Oh Chloe, I never should have left," his thumb brushed the spot between her forefinger and thumb, which felt waxy and moist, and almost as though he could puncture her skin.
Lucifer wasn't sure how long had passed. Every few minutes, a looming sense of urgency washed over him like a wave. But he couldn't move. He couldn't leave her again. Her hand had found its way to his cheek, holding him in the palm of her hand, gazing into his remorseful eyes. The ominous beep…beep…beep serenaded their silent reunion. Each time the machine stalled, taking momentarily too long for the next resounding beep his breath hitched, before she'd stroke his cheek, reassuringly.
"Where are the girls?" He flinched at the sound of his voice, booming through their reprise. Chloe smiled gently.
"Rory left just before you got here and Trixie's at home with her children." Lucifer hesitated. Was he too late? Had Rory already time travelled to seek her revenge?
"You're a grandmother?"
"Two girls and a boy, Dan," she smiled fondly.
You need to find Rory and stop her. He ignored the voice screaming at him. He knew what he had to do, but he physically couldn't pull himself away. Her touch grounded him. Maybe this was why he had time travelled. Simply to be there for her final moments.
"YOU!" A voice hissed. Their spell was broken, and his head snapped in the direction of the voice.
"Rory!" Lucifer found himself standing, walking to embrace her. With a burst of feathers and hands around his neck, he found her burgundy blades pinning him against the furthest wall from Chloe. He could hear her feeble protest.
"What gives you the right to show up now? I'm the one who's been here for her, we don't need you!" Her nostrils flared, chest heaving, blades inching closer to his neck. Her eyes. As livid and hurt as those that had drowned him in Hell.
"I can explain-" He started.
"Explain!?" He could feel the blade digging into his neck, blood trickling down his neck. Damn this vulnerability, he scoffed to himself.
"You made me promise," he reached an arm out to her shoulder.
"I didn't make you do anything!" She backed away, her wings curled forward, still pinning him. The beep, beep, beep, beep, beep, beep intensified. Chloe's whimpers falling on deaf ears. Lucifer glanced over.
"Breathe Chloe! We're okay." Lucifer didn't want her dying moments to witness this confrontation. Rory glanced between her parents. Somehow addressing Chloe enraged Rory further. Her blades sunk deeper but her eyes pricked deeper.
"Shut up," she snarled. The air swirled around her, misty and iridescent at once.
"No, no, no," Lucifer pleaded. "Calm down Rory, just listen, please don't go!" He moved, feeling the feather blade pinching as he approached.
The mist intensified as his daughter blurred, fading from this existence. Beep, beep, beep, beep, beep, BEEP. He glanced frantically.
"I'll fix this Chloe, I promise!" He roared over the chaotic mist, rumbling thunder and pleading machine. Rory fumbled around trying to escape her self-inflicted portal. Her wings had retracted and as she glanced at Lucifer her pupils were dilated and darting right and left, pleading. She was scared. He reached out, grasping her hand pulling himself close. She punched and kicked, trying to shove him back to reality, but he wrapped his arms around her, drawing her close to his chest, blood spilling from his neck, matting her hair.
The living room faded from view, and his muscles relaxed. He felt weightless and his head felt fuzzy. He was drifting and fast. His hands held her firm against him. She was his main focus. The mist consumed their bodily forms, washing over and absorbing them. The iridescent mist brushed her pink streaked hair, whipping past them. But he held on. Don't let her go, don't let her go.