Chapter 24: Two

Lucifer found himself torn between which of his two newest suits he should wear. Turn of a new fashion season always had so many options; how was a devil to decide? He shifted the hangers back and forth, as though weighing the merit of each suit.

'Hmm, both are new independent designers, both are blue... However, the cut of these pants... Yes. Zimswick it is.'

As he made his way down to Lux proper, he found that new season choices were a shared theme. Maze and Miss Varquez stood in front of a collection of every dancer that worked for Lux. Lucifer eased himself on to a stool at the bar to watch. Miss Varquez was in the process of giving some kind of lecture.

"- is why we've called you here this morning. Everyone has been given the initial choreography, and try-outs will be this Sunday before we open. Anyone who is interested, regardless of shift, seniority, or full or part time status, is invited to sign-up. For those of you who like to procrastinate, we will also be taking walk-ins that morning. I will not be considering individuals outside of our current staff.

"Any questions?" Natalie finished as she looked over her staff of dancers.

Soft murmuring had picked up, but no questions came forward. Natalie gave a dismissing wave and headed to the back room to post the sign-up sheet. She had just pinned it to the board when Patrick's hand shot out to sign his name. Her eyebrows came up, as she turned to the young man.

"I didn't know you danced."

"I've always wanted to be on the dance shift, but I've always gotten too nervous in the past because everyone on the troupe was a woman. I didn't want to be that guy... But you've been incorporating more guys into the sets and everyone seems really cool with it... So I thought I could finally try."

Natalie stared at Patrick for a moment. Even as socially inept as she was, she could tell he felt vulnerable by opening up to her. A flash of Evan's face crossed her mind. A memory from when he had told her about wanting to play in the battle of the bands, but being too scared to go. It had been the first time she promised to perform with him. Decided, she clapped a hand on Patrick's shoulder and broadly smiled.

"I guess you better start practicing then." She said brightly before heading out of the room.

Maze had retreated back to the bar to pour a set of drinks. Natalie joined them at the bar, and accepted one of the set. Maze grinned as the three made a silent toast, and then downed their shots. Natalie snorted a laugh, half-turned to say something to Maze when the front down was roughly slammed open.

Lucifer was surprised as anyone to see Daniel on his literal doorstep. That initial surprise was dwarfed by rage as Daniel charged up to him and slammed him back against the bar. Lucifer was quick to raise his hand, which signaled Maze to not attack. At the last moment, he realized that he had forgotten about the other person at the bar.

Daniel had only blinked for a moment and Lucifer was out of his grasp. Meanwhile, Daniel was experiencing breathing difficultly. He looked to the side to see he was pinned by the throat to a table by one of the club's dancers. The woman said nothing, just stared down at him with gray eyes that left part of him bothered the longer he looked. Soon he began to struggle against her grip, before outright thrashing. Before he could black-out, the strange gray eyes were hauled back and he could breathe freely again.

Maze muttered to Natalie about not hurting her roommate's on-again-off-again husband. Natalie merely shrugged, before wandering into the backroom. Maze gave the other staring dancers a pointed look to make them scatter as well.

"Sorry, tad protective that one." She said calmly as she helped Daniel up. "So, why the theatrics?"

Daniel took a deep breathe. He felt better without that weird woman in the room. "Trixie was attacked. She claims it was by something called a 'pale one' and when I tried to ask more she told me that adults can't remember. That all kids knew that, it's why she didn't like riding on the highway at night. 'They run by the cars' or something like that." He paused to take a breathe before continuing the torrent of words. "Now, I don't know the hell is going on, but her backpack was ripped up by something bigger than a dog, I don't care what that idiot working patrol that day said – no dog makes rips like that. And anything weird always involves you, Lucifer. So either you did something, so fix it; or it's just weird, which is still your realm of bullshit, so FIX IT!"

Maze and Lucifer turned to each other, horror clear on both of their faces. A Pale One had attacked Trixie?

"Alright, fair enough, Daniel. 'Weird things' are my area of expertise. You keep your family together and inside. I'll call you when it's handled." Lucifer said with as much as his usual swagger as he could manage. Daniel looked mostly appeased, but still left with a frown. Lucifer and Maze spoke in quiet, rushed tones.

"She knows something, Lucifer. I know she still remembers something from the last one."

"I know! Linda thinks she is just pretending to face social face. We explain it, and let her help."

"Ugh! Fine!"

The pair made their way to the backroom, however Natalie Varquez was gone. According to the staff in the backroom, she had left right after their visitor had half-yelled about a "pale one". Lucifer did his best to not let Maze's smug look dissuade him from the idea that Miss Varquez was on their side. "See? Already off to deal with it."

"Look I enjoy Nat's company too. But we can't assume that she's acting in our best interest just because you two keep acting like teens in closets."

"My trust in Miss Varquez has nothing to do with our physical interactions." He firmly rebutted.

"... Sure it doesn't."

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Natalie's shoulders ached, but she didn't have time to do anything about that. She slammed open the fire escape window and shouted at Evan to wake up. While he stumbled about, cursing and smashing into things, Natalie unlocked her cabinet.

"I wasn't expecting another one so soon." She muttered to herself as she lifted the centered blade. "Kanaxicoatl is still slightly duller than normal..."

She turned the large blade over in her hands, potential battle plans playing out in her mind. Evan barreled into the room. He's eyes fell on to the sword in hand and he slowed to compose himself.

"Another one? Already?" He asked, terror clear in his voice.

Natalie nodded, before closing the cabinet and hoisting the blade on to her shoulder. "It's still trying to prey on children, which means it's even younger than the last one. More reckless. If I can catch it early..."

"But it's broad daylight!" Evan half-hollered back.

"Really, I hadn't noticed." She dead-panned with a glare. "That's why I need you. You run crowd control while I lure it to one of the abandoned plazas."

Evan still looked scared, but nodded his agreement nonetheless.