The Cassidy Chronicles

Two - Lucifer Rising

Lucifer raised its shaggy head. There was no mistaking the rumble of the motor. Or the owner of the high-pitched squeal.

She was back!

On its feet before the doorbell chimed, Lucifer took up a station beside the front door.

Ding-dong… Ding-dong…

The Master approached the door. Massive hand wrapped around the knob, he glanced down at his charge. "Are you ready for this? You got your mind right? Because all Hell is about to break through this door."

Standing on all fours, Lucifer remained alert.

Deadbolt unbolted. Lock unlocked. The Master granted entry.

"Puppy!"

Steel bars clamped around Lucifer's neck. Only the thick muscles and fur surrounding its throat staved off suffocation. This form of greeting was natural for the youngest of the Master's kin. Lucifer would endure. Because Lucifer was a good dog. And there would inevitable be treats and petting.

Cassie kissed Lucifer right between the eyebrows. It had been almost forever since she had seen her puppy. Actually, it wasn't her puppy. It was Uncle's puppy. But Uncle belonged to Cassie, so it was nearly the same thing. "Oh, puppy, I missed you!"

Lucifer – the puppy in question – was a five year old German Shepherd-Rottweiler mix that outweighed the youngest Jericho more than two-to-one.

"And your Uncle," reminded Kane. "You missed him, too. You haven't seen him in over two weeks."

Running her fingers through Lucifer's fur, Cassie beamed up at her Uncle. Dimples popped. "I missed you lots and lots, Uncle! I give you hugs!"

Mark back up two steps. The last time Cassie had administered one of her jubilant hugs, he'd had to ice his knee for hours afterward. He and all who knew the child had adopted the phrase "Though she be but little, she be mighty."

Faced with the bone-crushing love of his only niece, Mark deflected her attention. "Hunter's in the kitchen," he said. "Go hug him."

At the mention of the presence of Hunter Hearst Helmsley, Cassie's grin grew so large, it threatened to fall off her face and crush Lucifer. Her bright blue eyes gleamed. Her dimples were two delicate points of perfection. If she suddenly sprouted wings and a halo appeared above her head, none of the men would have been a bit surprised.

Cassie release Lucifer. Spinning on her heels, arms outstretched like the wings of a plane, she bolted towards the kitchen. "Hunter!"

Off she went, in search of Mark's "friend".

"You know," started Kane, "there are days I wonder how much you love than man."

Mark shrugged. "I love him as much as I love the man who cost me my eyebrows."

"They grew back!"

"Argh!" A scream resounded from the kitchen.

The three men shouted, "The other leg!"

Lucifer turned and trotted to the source of the sound.

Hanging his and Kane's jacket in the closet, Chris noted, "I think she broke your boyfriend."

The three men walked towards the kitchen.

"Hunter's not some china doll," remarked Mark. "You'd be surprised the amount of punishment the man can take. Hunter is endurance personified."

Kane placed a hand on his brother's shoulder. "Please… Keep the details to yourself."

Rounding the corner, they came up short. Cassidy hung two feet off the ground. Upside down. Suspended by her ankles. Lucifer lapped at her fingertips.

Cassidy was ignorant to any danger. Her hair fluttered around her head like a cape. "Hunter's gonna make a wish!" she announced.

Chris came to his daughter's defense. "Hey, you break her, you buy her! And no refunds or exchanges."

Gently, Hunter lowered Cassie to the floor. Lucifer licked her nose. "How was the drive?"

Kane vigorously shook his head. He feared his husband's response.

Through clenched teeth, Chris sang, "The city is ours, ours, ours… The city is ours…"

"That's my song," chirped Cassie. "Daddy plays it all the time."

Cassie took an interest in Lucifer's tail. It was long and firm and covered in bristly hair that tickled her fingers. At that same moment, Lucifer was intrigued by the little lights on the sides of Cassie's sneakers. They glowed bright pink with every step she took. The two moved in a constant circle. Each chasing the other.

"It's not my fault." Chris lamented over his child's poor choice in music. "I tried so hard to teach her right from wrong. But I've failed her!"

Kane patted his husband's blond head. "You finished?"

"Yeah." Chris wiped a fake tear from the corner of his eye. "I think so."

"Then fix your face and act right."

Cassie cried triumphantly, "I got puppy's tail!"