Last Author's Note: I have no excuses. Just a finished thesis. This chapter, and the next, have been rewritten so many times, I really really struggled with finishing connecting dots A and B, so I do hope that you enjoy it. The final chapter is still under going rewrites; however, I do have it. So I apologize in advance for the wait. Thank you for your time reading. I am working on the second half/sequel. I did my graduation walk this last weekend, and am getting final grades for my last semester soon. I want to finish edits before my degree arrives, so let that give you hope. There is also a "final draft" version of the full content of this story that is being released on my account on Archive of Our Own. Be warned, it is explicit. The story is the same, just more polished.
All the years spent on this, and spent with my readers, have been an amazing journey. I still intend to go back and finish my others early works, and work on new projects and ideas. A couple I have lined up: (Chang/OC Dark/Dead-dove of Black Lagoon), (Levi/OC AoT), and a Netflix Cowboy Bepop Continuation.
So once again. Thank you. Thank you for reading. Thank you for waiting. Thank you for your support and time. Thank you for letting my story into your life and heart. I wish for you kindness and joy.
You are not alone.
No More Stolen Sisters.
"Peace and Love",
Mint Tea and Skulls
Chapter 42: Pawn to G4
Lucifer spent the night thinking it over and the next morning he gave the detective his answer.
"No." He said firmly.
The detective had been about to start on her cup of coffee, and the statement made her pause. She looked between him and the cup, a sigh followed.
"Did you spike my coffee thinking it was yours again?"
"What? No to that as well. I meant I will not help you by asking a favor for you."
"Oh. Well. I mean, I guess I hadn't thought of it that way." The detective paused, a thoughtful look passed her face as she sipped her coffee. "Yeah, you're right. I'll just ask her directly. Tonight is another one of Maze's chaos trains. I can ask then."
He nodded and the two began their work on the latest murder investigation. When the detective called the day so that she could prepare for the night's activities, Lucifer made his way to Natalie's apartment. The stairs seems longer than normal, but he came to knock on the loft door nonetheless. Evan open it, a large binder balanced on one arm.
"Oh! Mr. Morningstar! You, ah, you shouldn't be here."
From behind Evan, the sound of glass breaking and shouting could be heard from farther inside.
"Evan! Shit. Where the fuck is the broom? Why are you just standing there with the door … open."
Natalie's hollering came to a stop as she entered Lucifer's view. The surprise in her eyes almost immediately glossed over to hard glass. Unmoved slabs of stone.
"You should close the door when the hallway is empty." She said in a cold tone.
Evan seemed rather uncomfortable. He looked between the two before clearing his throat and making an excuse about Devin. His hurried steps out of the building echoed through the silence. Lucifer turned his attention back the the woman who hadn't moved. Her arms crossed over her front, face without inflection.
The short distance between them felt infinite.
He opened his mouth and closed it. Attempted starts at questions that wouldn't break free from him. Still she waited and watched.
"I am sorry, Natalie." He started with, in a soft tone. "Can … we talk?"
Her brow pinched together, but despite her apparent confusion, she did step aside and allow him entry. Once he was a couple steps through the door, she quietly closed it behind him. The sound of the latch triggered his long-ignored need to flee from the building. He couldn't stop the harsh laugh the slipped from him. At least that was some thing he knew the answer of now. However, he also knew that Natalie would never willfully hurt him.
She motioned to the couch, and they took a seat at each end. After a couple moments of silence, while he wrung over his hands and thoughts, she sighed and spoke up.
"I'm sorry, too. I didn't mean to lose my temper."
He glanced up to see her looking back at him. She sat with her back to the armrest, facing him.
"But I'm not sorry for the content of what I said." She continued firmly. "I'm not all-powerful, I'm not even properly immortal. I've never really lived anywhere that didn't have humans. When I was a youngling, I thought of them like staff, or pets. Harmless, funny little creatures. However, they are like water. A single drop can be brushed aside, but enough can destroy anything.
"I once thought to challenge them. I thought my might would be strong enough to bring to heel the destruction that was wrought. I was only strong enough to convince them I could be their weapon to use against other humans rather than just kill me. Agent Tanners? He's my latest handler. Apparently there is a whole department that is dedicated to the controlling and objective use of odd and unusual creatures."
Lucifer recalled when he first bought Lux and an government agent had a approached him. He used the opportunity to secure identification for himself and Maze in exchange for cruise tickets. He hadn't considered that it had been for nefarious reasons. Natalie shifted on the couch and finished.
"They aren't innocent bumbling fools. The humans are dangerous, clever, with seemingly unlimited appetites."
"Yet, you still choose to help some of them. Like that boat in the harbor, the detective and I can't find any physical evidence or anyone to testify, but the description the boy gave matched you."
"Yes, like finding a box of puppies, I do take mercy on some that have been turn on by the others. I know what it is like to live in fear. I can empathize. But …"
"... You're just one person. Well, as a 'proper' immortal, I am unharmed by human weapons. With the exception of the detective's presence, I have yet to find any human-made thing in this world that is capable of truly hurting me."
She gave a sharp laugh.
"That explains … a lot, actually. I always thought you were an adrenaline junkie. Wait, what about all the liquor and drugs, do they not effect you?"
"They do, it just takes a larger amount, and a bit of effort. However, the effects are usually very short compared to humans."
"Best of both worlds."
A silence settled between them.
"Why are you so angry with me?" He asked softly.
"I'm not mad, Lucifer. I'm just frustrated, and hurt. The gala meant a lot to me." She paused and swallowed hard. "You mean a lot to me."
"I know there is still a great deal about your life that I don't understand, but I would like to." He responded softly. "I may not completely agree with your methods, but I can at least appreciate the difficultly of your position. However, I do want to ask: if I could help you find another way, would you leave 'Sinner Man'?"
She looked reflective, part of her lip trapped between her teeth. After shifting about on the couch for a moment, she ran a hand through her hair and looked back at him.
"Yes." She whispered. "However, I can't leave that life behind."
"Why not?"
"My deal with the government."
His eyes darted off to the side. Before he could get too far into his plot to find the official responsible, a gentle hand on his cheek brought his attention back. She had climbed across the couch to reach him. One of those happy defeated smiles on her face.
"Stop. The thought is kind, but no rocking the boat."
"But-"
"No. Please, Lucifer. Just leave it be."
He frowned, but ceased his protests. His hand laid over hers as he turned his head to kiss her palm.
"Would you tell me of the Pale Ones, then? How dangerous are they to the humans?" He tried instead.
"Very. I don't have time to go into detail. Maze is expecting me for girls' night and I have to finish getting ready. She's seen what happens to the humans that are consumed by one. Eventually they can become smaller versions, repeating the cycle and expanding."
"That seems problematic. Do you have a plan for stopping them?"
"No." She whispered back. "I know it's eventually expected of me, but I have no idea how."
More questions came to mind, however her hand shifted to press against his mouth.
"Tomorrow. Whatever questions you have; tomorrow I'll answer them. I really do need to get ready."
0-0 0-0 0-0
The next morning, an unspoken ban in the local news lifted, and a wide story broke in the mid-morning news. A 700 million dollar reward for the capture and return of Natalie Varquez to a private party, picture and all. She had been in the middle of practice. When the news came across the television, a couple of the dancers turned to look at her.
She barely had time to mutter a furious "Fuck!" before the two lunged at her. Screams rose from a few of the other dancers as she carefully body tossed each of them. Resistant to see if any of the rest wanted to try their luck, she darted for the door. Once on the street, she tried to blend in to the flow of pedestrians...
Three days. It had been three days since she had slept. Three days of adrenaline, fighting, and pain. Natalie honestly didn't know how much longer she could keep this pace. Evan called almost constantly. She turned off her phone to stop the noise.
There were no calls from the worst boss in the world. However, she also strongly suspected this latest round of hunting was his fault. The blood on her hip left a trail down the wall of the alley as she slid down.
A harsh laugh tumbled out of her, followed by a hiss of pain. The pain in her side was probably a broken rib. She wondered if Lucifer would still defend the humans now, till the thought was cut short. It was faint, but she could hear it. The whispering screams.
A Pale One.
She gritted her teeth and pushed against the wall. She wasn't so prideful as to think she could fight it in this state. Once back to her feet, she staggered as quickly as she could. The brief wondering if someone could die from too much adrenaline. Another cold laugh sent pain through her chest.
She had to survive long enough for it to kill her. However, that would be the grand question. Which was going to kill her first: the adrenaline, the Pale One, Heaven's greatest warrior hidden somewhere in the city, or the black-market bounty that blue-eyed bastard put on her head.
The first raindrop that fell caused her heart to drop. The skittering of the abomination sharpened under the starting downfall. Her own foot fall sounded muted as she tried to weave between alleyways and buildings. She attempted to hurry anyways. However, when she rounded the corner, too many things happened at once.
0-0 0-0 0-0
Lucifer had been with the detective, at a cafe, when the news dropped. Coffee forgotten, the detective began calling contacts at the station to try to find out who had posted the reward. Lucifer opted to call Evan. Neither of them had much success. They returned to Lux instead.
Two knocked-out, but unharmed dancers, and no Natalie. When Evan finally answered his phone, he had no answer either. She'd gone into hiding. Lucifer's next immediate idea was to acquire Maze's assistance. However, the demoness had vanished as well. The duo assumed she was already out looking for either Natalie or the poster of the reward.
While the rest of the city seemed to resettle after the first day, the more unsavory members of the underground community took a more active role in the search. It only took the first group getting lucky, and the trail of collective hospital visits, to make Natalie's movements clear. By 48 hours after the news reel had dropped, the police had put together a planned perimeter to find her and bring her under their protection. Lucifer and the detective had been largely excluded from the process, left to stand at the back of a barricade. It gave them a perfect view of when Natalie was finally found.
She rounded the corner, stumbling and trying to run. Her attention was over her shoulder, as if she was running from someone. The collective sound of cocking guns caused both the detective and himself to startle. Before either of them could speak up, a megaphone sounded.
"Natalie Varquez, you are here by under arrest for assault and man slaughter. Please surrender peacefully."
Even at this distance, he could see an encompassing fear in her features. She tumbled down, gasping. The sound of a starting rainstorm filled the tense silence. The detective had already started to fight her way to the Lieutenant. She yelled to try to be heard over the first clap of thunder. In the street, Natalie held her hands against her ears, eyes searching the ground frantically. When her gaze locked with a man-hole, her entire body looked as though all of the blood had drained from her. In the next moment, she turned to yell at the barricade.
"RUN!"
The immediate response of those closest to the front was to fire. Somewhere in the background, he could hear Chloe screaming "No!", however his attention was singled to the watching Natalie recoil as she pressed into as small of a ball as she could. A deep fury filled him, the kind of fury that had once led him into rebellion. Before it could take root into action, the man-hole was thrown into the air as a globular white limb burst from it.
Like a play-dough nightmare, it kept flowing from the ground while the street watching in frozen horror. Except for Natalie, who had begun to try to crawl away. A long tendril pinned her leg in place, causing her to cry out. The sound snapped the humans from their stupor. Some began to panic and some began to attack the blob. Fury clashed with fear, so with few options with so many people in one place, he began pushing his way through, and as far from the detective as he could.
In the center of the mass, an eye opened.
"FINALLY! YOU SHALL RUN NO FURTHER, CHILD! IT IS TIME TO RETURN!"
The thunderous ethereal voice echoed through the entire street. People fainted all around him, unable to process the wave of sound that had washed over them. It saved them from the images that came with it.
A robe of jeweled feathers, so heavy and large on one so small.
A pair of tiny hands cling to brilliant emerald scales, the ground far below.
A sprawling city at the base of the stairs of the temple, the bay visible from this high up. The brightest star in the sky just before the sunrise burns on the horizon, reflected in the calm waters.
Natalie's response rung with pain, ethereal in turn, "NO! It will NOT be For NOTHING!"
The sound echoed in waves, faint images flow with it. Less of a forced attack, and more of a defensive offering.
A resolute frown.
A small crying babe.
The clarity of responsibility.
With the humans incapacitated, it was easier to sprint through the barricade. As the mass poured on to the street, it became a deep gray. Limbs sprouted to support its mass. Its eye gleamed as it formed a head.A line broke across the space below the eye, unhinging into a jagged maw. A familiar blue spark began to dance across her skin.
"YOU ARE ALONE AND TOO WEAK." It challenged.
Unlike before, no wave of images came with the words this time. As he tried to overtake the distance between them, the Pale One leaned over as its mouth widened. A curved hell blade embedded itself handle deep into the center of the eye. Natalie lunged, contorting her pinned leg, and clasped her hand around the blade.
"I'm NOT alone."
Strawberries and a blender on the counter.
Piled magazines and the jingle of keys.
A smile that was warm and bright like the sun.
Blue lighting tore through the front half of its body, shredding the gray flesh in its wake. Inhuman screeching filled the air and a second eye appeared further back. It staggered, weaving back and forth while its mass redistributed. New limbs formed to balance the ones lost. Lucifer reach Natalie's side to help her stand, the hell blade clenched in her fist. From behind them, Mazikeen joined them, her second blade at the ready.
"You look like shit." She greeted.
"Thanks, Maze." Natalie replied, with genuine warmth. "I've never seen one this big before. I don't know what it's capable of. Obviously more than one merged together, so the real question is how many?"
Maze sighed, "We're fucked."
"Nah, we got this."
"How do we stop it?" Lucifer interjected.
"Hit until it dies?"
"You seriously have no plan?" Maze glared at Natalie.
"Hear me out. That blast took about half out, so it can't be more than two or three."
Both Lucifer and Maze gave Natalie a concerned look.
"Can you repeat the attack?" Lucifer asked softly.
"It was right earlier, I am weak right now. But I have more control than before, so with smaller blasts and a conduit, I can achieve a similar effect."
"Conduit?"
"Maze's dagger."
"What?"
"I don't know why, but there is something strange about it that responses well to me. So, maybe?"
Maze became unusually quiet, staring at Natalie. All of their attentions turned as a gun shot rang through the air. The shifting mass stopped, a silvery-bright gleam of light shown from one side of the mass near the eye and out the other. The eye blinked and then burned as the silver gleam consumed it. The trio turned to see Chloe standing with her gun drawn. Sweat poured off her forehead, and she slumped down once the creature had burned away.
"Okay, seriously, who the fuck is she?!" Natalie asked, clearly frustrated.
"It's a long story. I can tell you all about it over food at our safe-house." Lucifer offered.
"I can't bring this down on you."
"Shut up," Maze interrupted, tossing Natalie over her shoulder, "You admitted that you're not alone anymore. You'll end up dead if you keep this up. Lucifer, keep an eye on Chloe."
"See you two tonight."