Author's Note: Hey faithful readers. Thank you for holding on. Sorry the updates take so long to get posted. My brain is a jumbled mess. I have some time off so hopefully I'll get a couple more posted quicker. Enjoy.
"Can this bloody car go any faster?" A worried exasperated Lucifer said to the detective. The police cruiser was barely moving to him. They came to a stop at a light and he blew out a long breath. "Seriously. This is a police car. Put on the lights and let's go." He urged the detective.
"Lucifer, calm down. I am going as fast as the speed limit allows." Chloe tried to calm her partner. He sat next to her tapping the roof of the car. She placed her hand on his arm. "It's going to be okay."
Dark eyes looked at the woman. He sighed. Perhaps she was right. The light turned green and the car slowly accelerated. Still the worry in the pit of his immortal stomach was gnawing at him. This was not something he was accustomed to. He wasn't sure where it came from. He had never worried over any of his other offspring. But Persephone. She was different. "I suppose you are right, Detective." The Devil said after a moment. His hands still drumming on the roof. He hesitantly found himself looking upwards.
Like a miracle, it seemed all the lights stayed green and the traffic stayed clear. They moved right along. It seemed like no time before they reached their destination. Lucifer was out of the car before Chloe could put it into park. The outside of the concert hall was quiet. Chloe was soon at his side and they walked up to the door and were let in after Chloe showed her badge.
"See, everything is fine." Chloe said to Lucifer.
Lucifer ignored her comment and rushed down the hall. They could hear loud heavy metal coming out of the auditorium. Lucifer smiled when he heard his daughter's voice over the loud music. Heavenly like an angel. Then the peace was shattered by screams and a gunshot. The Devil didn't hesitate to rush in as people ran out. Chloe was close behind him as another shot fired.
Persephone looked out at the crowd as the band prepared to start their first song. They had practiced for months for this day. She glanced at Iain and smiled at him. Her eyes traveled to her other bandmates. They all acknowledged her. Then they began to play. Harmonic metal as they called it. Persephone brought the microphone to her lips and began to sing over the raucous music.
She moved with the music. Smiling to the crowd. The words flowed out of her. Then the amplifier next to her exploded into a shower of sparks as a gun was fired. Screams from the crowd made her look towards the source. Rodney stood there with a gun trained on her. She was frozen in fear as he pointed it at her again and fired. She screamed as a bullet grazed her left shoulder. Blood spurted out at the wound as she trained her dark eyes on her mother's stalker. They locked eyes for a moment as he raised the gun again. She raised her other hand and before she could do anything, Rodney flew and hit a wall. She gasped. Then in a blink her father stood there glaring at her for a moment. Then he turned his attention to Rodney. She fell to her knees as the pain from the wound became like fire.
Lucifer strode over to Rodney. He had thrown the man with tremendous force into the wall. Rodney looked dazed but was still awake. Lucifer stood over the man for a moment before picking him up. He held him by the neck against the wall. His dark eyes turned red with fire. This man had hurt his child. A growl rumbled out of his chest.
Rodney merely laughed. "You do not scare me Satan." His voice chocked out. "I am doing God's bidding." He felt the Devil's hands tighten around his throat.
"You are. Are you?" Lucifer growled. His hand tightened around the man's neck. He felt the man struggling to breath. Still he would only laugh. This further angered the Devil. "Why?" Was the only question he could muster?
"For Joanie." Rodney croaked out. "You raped her. You tricked her into carrying your spawn. I did this for her." He sputtered out.
Lucifer growled. "I did no such thing. I loved Joanie." He tightened his grip more feeling tissue and sinew break. The man's face turned purple as he struggled to breath.
"Lucifer!" Chloe's voice called out. She trained her gun at Lucifer. "Lucifer. Stop!" She ordered.
The Devil turned to her. "Detective he needs to pay for what he did." His voice rumbled out.
"And he will." Chloe responded. "But killing him won't do you daughter any good. Persephone is fine." Chloe pleaded with her partner. "Please."
Lucifer turned back to the man. He was no longer awake. His eyes were closing. With a final growl, Lucifer released his grip and Rodney fell to the floor. Chloe rushed forward to check his pulse. Lucifer stood watching for a moment. His fists balled up. Rodney awoke and began gasping. Chloe was on the phone calling for medics. Lucifer turned his attention to the stage. Persephone was sitting on the edge as a medic bandaged her shoulder. She looked up at him. Her dark eyes so like his glistened with tears. For a moment, he forgot his anger. He only saw his little girl. He had to be strong. He stopped a few feet away.
"Daddy, I'm sorry." She sniffled.
The medic turned and looked at Lucifer. He smiled. "You are her father?"
Lucifer nodded. "Yes." He replied.
"She should be okay. It was just a graze. Doesn't even need stitches." The medic explained to Lucifer. "I will be done shortly." He turned back to Persephone's shoulder.
Lucifer nodded again to the medic. Inwards he was seething. He was doing everything he could to keep from exploding. Persephone had disobeyed him. Had put herself in danger. He had been worried sick. Here she sat with a bloody shoulder. Why did she insist on defying him? He looked upwards. Was this his Father's doing? Make his child rebellious as revenge.
"Is she alright?"
The Detective's voice brought him out of his thoughts. He looked at her and nodded. "She is fine." His voice was cool.
"Good." Chloe patted his arm. "Rodney is in custody."
Lucifer nodded. He didn't respond with words. His eyes were trained on his disobedient offspring. Her dark eyes looking up at him trying for sympathy. He just looked back stone faced. The medic finished bandaging her shoulder.
"You can take her now." The medic packed up his equipment and walked away.
Persephone opened her mouth to say something. Lucifer held up his hand. "I don't want to hear it. Go get your things." He ordered. Persephone nodded and stood up. She walked off the stage. Lucifer sighed and ran his hand over his chin. He took a deep breath. He felt a hand on his arm. Looking down at the blue eyes of the Detective.
"Are you alright?" She asked.
Lucifer pulled away from her contact. "I'm fine Detective." He responded without his usual glee. He turned away from her. The last few days had been trying. He had seen the woman whom he had loved in a pool of blood. Her life taken. They were still no closer in finding out who had done the deed. He had been worrying himself over their child. His rebellious child, so like himself. Shaking his head, he looked at Chloe. "Why do they insist on driving us to distraction?" He almost whispered as he sat on the edge of the stage.
Chloe chuckled lightly as she sat beside him. She nudged his shoulder with hers. "That's their job. I guess."
Lucifer sighed and looked at her. A slight smile worked its way onto his face. This woman always had a knack for making him feel better. "I suppose. She was such a good child when she was younger."
"I do not look forward to this phase with Trixie." Chloe laughed.
Lucifer laughed also. "You want to trade?" He chuckled. He sensed someone walking towards them. His face took on a serious look as Persephone stood in front of him. Her eyes red from tears. Her head hung low. Lucifer felt sympathy but he had to be tough. He stood up. "Let's go." His voice slithered out. He then leads her outside while Chloe talked to uniformed officers.
"Persephone!" Her boyfriend Iain called out. The rest of their bandmates were close behind.
Lucifer turned to the lad. He glared at him. "Was this your idea? Did you talk her into sneaking out of Lux?" He questioned the boy.
Iain froze at Lucifer's questions. He looked at Persephone and back at Lucifer. "Um n-no sir." He responded shakily. "She didn't tell me she wasn't supposed to leave."
"Daddy. It was my idea." Persephone chimed in. "I'm so- "
Lucifer cut her off. "Yes. You are sorry. I know." He glared at her. "Let's go." He started walking to the Detective's squad car. He listened as Persephone said her goodbyes to her friends then she was close behind him. The two walked in silence. Reaching the car, he opened the back-passenger door. Their eyes met as she slid into the car. He had to look away as he closed the door. Pulling out his pack of cigarettes, he took one out and lit up. He stood puffing away while waiting for Detective Decker to finish talking to the other officers.
Chloe walked over to her car. Lucifer was leaning against it smoking. She could feel the tension. His dark eyes glaring into space. She stopped in front of him and glanced at his daughter sitting in the backseat. Tears streamed down her cheeks. She patted him arm. "Ready? We have to go back to the precinct."
Lucifer nodded and dropped his cigarette and stamped it out. He moved to the passenger side and got in.
Chloe started the car and then pulled into traffic. The tense silence between father and daughter was thick enough to cut. She tapped the steering wheel. Her mind thinking of something to say. She looked back at Persephone. The girl's makeup was running from her tears. Taking a deep breath. "So, Persephone. Can you answer a question for me?" She felt Lucifer's eyes upon her. Persephone was also looking at her. "Do you know the name of the gardener?"
Persephone sniffled. "What gardener?"
"Didn't you guys have a gardener? Someone who took care of the outside of your house."
"Oh. Him." She sniffled again. "His name is Jorge." She responded.
"Do you know his last name by chance?" Chloe asked.
Persephone shrugged. "I don't remember." Tears filled her eyes again. "I remember him arguing with Mom the other day." She blubbered out before sobbing into her hands.
Chloe nodded and glanced at Lucifer. The man was staring out the front window. He sat so still. How she could not figure out. She placed a hand on his arm. He turned to her. His expression was stone cold. It made the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. She pulled her hand back to the steering wheel. She listened as Persephone sobbed in the backseat. This was going to be a long drive back to the precinct.