Author's note: You are about to read a chapter that I hope will thrill you! I am sooooo excited to have you discover it. This is certainly the chapter that I like the most in this new story. The main idea date back from around the end of Stuck in Hell, when Lucifer told Chloe that now that they were seriously involved, she would be considered as the Queen of Hell by all the hellish host. Then I have a huge surprise for you at the end of this chapter, the idea having taken roots in my mind almost from the beginning of Stuck in Hell. I've been very reluctant to go there since then, but it seems that my story has a mind of its own and now it looks like the good thing to do.
I want to say a big thank you to my fabulous French Beta, Bebec, who went over that chapter in a record time to suit my restlessness to post this as soon as possible. And now, place to the show! Enjoy the ride!
Chapter 11
Bow Down to Your Queen!
Moz'gan pulled once more on the ropes tying his hands and legs behind his back, yet without much hope of loosening them and escape. Those ropes had been tied up by the renowned Mazikeen after all, the Devil's chief torturer herself. He smirked in disdain at the reminder of his former colleague. She wasn't even that scary, when he thought about it. It had only taken the presence of the two angels to keep her from torturing him properly. Angels were so weak! And Mazikeen seemed to be listening to them. He was far from impressed, and would need much more incentives in order to betray a being as vile and dangerous as Lilith. And now that the Devil was missing, most certainly detained in Hell by Lilith's followers, considering that he never came back from his trip through the portal, then there was not much left on this Earth that could make him spill out what he knew.
He was brought out of his musing by the noise of the door opening in a crash. From his position, lying sideways on the floor, he could see the demon Mazikeen now hovering above him and eying him sadistically with a demonic dagger whirling between her fingers. Come to think of it, maybe he'd underestimated her after all...
But before Moz'gan could analyse further his precarious situation, the bounds tying up his legs were cut lose and he was forcefully brought up and towed out of the bedroom where he'd been tossed in about an hour ago. His stiff limbs were complaining against the rough treatment, but truthfully, he'd known much worse during his existence.
He was steered back into the living room where he'd been questioned earlier and brought in front of an armchair where was lazily sitting a strikingly beautiful blond creature all clad in leather. She looked human enough, but there was something about her that just made him doubt his eyes. With the rays of sunshine illuminating the room from behind her, her long golden locks cascading around her face were giving her an angelic aura. Yet, when he looked into her sparkling blue eyes, there was nothing angelic to be seen. The way her deadly gaze bore through him made him feel as if she were striping him naked and left exposed before her.
That enticing creature was clearly a danger to be reckoned with.
Another cue that told him that this being could be as dangerous as she was alluring, was the presence of a huge Hellhound in its hellish form laying by her side. She was petting it absentmindedly through its mane as if it were a simple dog. While the beast seemed to be enjoying greatly the attention, its entire focus was clearly on him. A deep growl could be heard coming from its throat as it pursed its chops menacingly, displaying sharp and deadly fangs.
The blond being smiled proudly at the beast's discontent reaction.
What the hell was going on here?
He put on a bravado that he barely felt anymore, smirking with as much confidence as he could master.
"Do you know who is in front of you?" Asked the demon Mazikeen in an official manner.
The way she said it made Moz'gan wonder if he should have recognized her. He returned his attention back on the blond threat to look at her more closely.
Then, recognition hit him.
He'd first seen her in pictures, then in the flesh this morning, but how could this alluring being be the same woman? It was definitely her though, yet she looked entirely different somehow. She was holding herself with so much confidence and grace, while diffusing such a dangerous aura... The difference couldn't have been greater. And he who had thought only a few hours ago at the precinct that she was a fragile human that could be easily impressed and frighten by the likes of him.
He couldn't have been more wrong.
He cleared his throat and answered Maze warily. "Her name is Chloe Decker. She is a detective and Lucifer's partner." Even if true, his words felt somehow insufficient to describe her at this moment.
As if to confirm his suspicions, the intriguing being stood up mightily without breaking eye contact with him and advanced towards him alluringly, followed closely by her hellish guardian.
She stopped only a foot away from him and slightly smiled with a malicious glint in her eyes. She let the tension built for a moment before speaking calmly, yet with a clear menace ringing in her voice.
"I am a lot more than that...," she began mysteriously. "I am the Devil's consort, and your rightful Queen!"
Moz'gan's jaw dropped in shock. The Devil had taken a mate? And had raised her to his rank? They had all thought that Lucifer had abandoned his post as King of Hell, but what if it was not the case, what if the Devil had only come on Earth to find a suitable mate and intended to take back his throne all along? They had already been wrong when thinking that the Devil had become weak, only to discover at the battle of the Abbey that he had never been stronger. They might very well have misread the entire situation.
The seeds of doubt were rapidly taking roots in the demon's mind.
Chloe Decker, no, The Queen of Hell, because it was obvious to him now that it was what she was, stared down at him knowingly as if she could read his disturbing thoughts. Maybe she could! After all, the Devil's consort could only be an exceptional being worthy of him. She might not even be entirely human. Trying to put aside the danger that his new Queen represented to his precarious existence, the demon forced his entire focus on her to try and figure out what she was. He spread his awareness to sound her out and after a moment...
There it was! That tiny celestial energy inside her. It was easy to miss, when not actively looking for it, even for someone like him, but now that he had found it, it was becoming more evident by the second. Her eyes were almost glowing with the celestial force. That human, in appearance at least, was way more than she appeared...
His breath sped up without his consent and he swallowed hard at the intriguing creature standing before him.
The Queen tore through his being with her intense gaze as she spoke again.
"I am also the one who holds your life into the palm of my hands," she breathed. Saying that seemed natural to her, as if she was ruling on life and death every day. She tilted her head at him in a strange way, as if deciding if he was worth living or not.
"So now, kneel!" she commanded with an iciness that sent shivers through his whole being.
It never crossed his mind not to obey as he fell on his knees, gaze enrapt by her presence. After a few seconds of confusion, he found the presence of mind to tear his gaze away from hers and bow deeply in submission.
"My Queen!" he rasped tightly. "Pardon the lower being that I am. I didn't know..."
"But now you do..." She reached to him and lifted his chin with a single finger to force him to look her in the eyes. "So tell me now, what were you looking for at the precinct?" she asked in a purr.
He hesitated, feeling panic arise inside him, torn between his allegiance to Lilith and his duty to his Queen. He was reluctant to lie to the latter, yet he was not crazy enough to double-cross Lilith. Doing so would be as good as to forfeit his life, and probably much worse.
Once more, he felt like the Queen's azure eyes were piercing right through him and reading his mind.
"You chose the wrong side when affiliating yourself with Lilith. Be sure that we will find her, and torn her apart limb from limb," his Queen promised without an ounce of humanity in her features.
The Hellhound choose that moment to remind Moz'gan of its presence by approaching its snarling mouth inches away from his face as if to emphasize its mistress' words.
"You better tell me everything you know if you want a chance at survival. And remember that there are worse things in this world than to die... She petted the Hellhound in a not so subtle way to make her point.
The two angels standing at the back of the room as silent vigils didn't seem to appreciate the innuendo, but apparently didn't dare to speak their mind in front of the Queen of Hell.
The demon's mind was spinning restlessly to try and find a way to tell his monarch enough of the truth to satisfy her without down right betraying Lilith.
"If I tell you what I know, will you let me live, whatever I might admit?" He held his breath as he felt her caress his chin with her finger.
His Queen thought about it for a long moment before reaching a decision. "I will!" she assured him solemnly.
The demon released his breath in relief, then started speaking, choosing carefully each one of his words. "I went to the precinct to get information about you and your entourage. Lilith needed as much intel as possible about what you knew of her whereabouts as well as to insure leverage against each one of you in case you would get too close to her. Though she didn't seem as much interested in you as she was in Mazikeen..." He allowed himself a small smile as he looked sideways at Maze. "Lilith knows that Mazikeen is the one who killed her daughter, and is single-minded on taking revenge over her."
"Let her come!" spat Maze. "I'll make short work of that bitch!"
"SILENCE! Mazikeen!" bellowed the Queen. "I did not allow you to speak if I recall," she added coldly.
The great and fearsome Mazikeen lowered her eyes meekly before her Queen and closed her lips tightly without adding a thing.
Moz'gan gulped as the Queen returned her focus on him. "Where is Lilith?" she demanded.
He hesitated the tiniest of moment. "Outside town, as far away from the Hellhound as she could without leaving the area altogether. But I don't know where she is exactly since I missed my meeting point this morning. As you see, she planned her moves carefully not, precisely in case a situation such as this one occurred."
The demon fidgeted under the scrutiny of his Queen. She seemed to be debating inwardly to decide if he was telling the truth or not.
Apparently, she decided to believe him as she made him write down the location of the missed rendezvous. Once he was done, she pursued her interrogation.
"How many demons answering to Lilith are there in the city?" she inquired.
"We are six first-class demons like myself, plus a winged-beast with enough intelligence to follow orders," he answered easily.
"And what is her plan?"
"She is looking for a safe place to hide while she will be plotting for a way to get to Mazikeen without being stopped first."
The Queen narrowed her eyes at him as if knowing he was hiding something from her.
"What about her long term plans? What was she hoping to achieve here on Earth when she crossed into this plane?"
The demon lifted an eyebrow surprisingly at the question. "But to bring Hell on Earth of course!" Wasn't it obvious?
"For someone who wants to bring mayhem on Earth, Lilith has been incredibly discreet so far. Don't you agree?" the Queen asked suspiciously.
Moz'gan thought about it for a few seconds. "I guess her revenge against Mazikeen is presently all she can think about. But we'll get to it eventually. After all, she promised us plenty of rampage and torturing of humans."
His Queen was silent for a long moment before asking him one last question. "Is there anything more I should know about Lilith's plans and whereabouts?" Her piercing eyes stared down at him dangerously.
He tried to master his fear and school his features as he lied straight to her face, for his sake. "No my Queen!"
The more than human being looked down on him with a glint of anger in her eyes. "You are lying to me!"
Moz'gan had no idea how she'd done it, but he understood too late that he couldn't lie to his Queen. He'd tried to play his cards smartly to get away with it, but there were things he just couldn't afford to say to her. So he pressed his lips tightly together and stared at his Queen as steadily as he could, knowing very well that she could decide to kill him on the spot or to have him tortured to death. Yet of the two evils, between Lilith and that mysterious being, he chose to take his chances with the latter.
The Queen released his chin and nodded solemnly. "I see. You've made your choice. And I have made mine. I will send you back to Hell, to the Devil who might not be as lenient with you as I am."
Moz'gan's eyes bulged in fright at the prospect of being sent to the Devil. He eyed warily the two angels lurking behind the Queen, but to his surprise, instead of seeing one of them move to take him back to Hell, Mazikeen took a hold of his arm and brought him up on his feet.
She had to be bluffing. Right? It was his only hope of salvation.
"My Queen!" He begged in a last resort. "Please, I told you everything I could."
"You're lucky I'm still keeping you alive after you broke our deal by lying to me. This is your last chance to tell me the whole truth."
Seeing that he was determinate to keep his knowledge to himself, the Queen finally gave a tiny nod in Maze's way as a signal to act.
The damned demon looked at Mazikeen in fright, having absolutely no idea what she had in store for him.
Then something that shouldn't be possible happened.
A light slowly appeared and expended from the point where Mazikeen was holding him around his wrist, along with a warmth that spread all over him. The light rapidly became blinding, then he felt himself slide into nothingness.
In the blink of an eye, he was crossing from this plane to the infernal realm, where he hoped the Devil was not really waiting for him...
The moment the demon disappeared from this dimension, Chloe bended over under the stress she'd just experienced.
"Damn it Maze! Never ask me to do something like that ever again. I almost peed in my pants!"
"Are you kidding me Decker? You were fantastic! You almost made me bow to you along with him. Damn! You were made for that, Decker. Lucifer would have been speechless if he'd seen you. I had no idea your acting skills we so good."
Chloe rubbed her eyes with trembling hands, as a dizziness was starting to overwhelm her. The adrenaline rush was apparently catching up with her.
"I need to sit," she said faintly.
Michael was by her side in an instant, supporting her and bringing her back to the armchair.
"Mazikeen is right," he acknowledged, "you did very well, Chloe. I don't think we could have gotten any more information even by torturing it out of him."
Once she was back into a sitting position, Amenadiel crouched before her and looked at her pale face with concern. "Are you okay, Chloe? You look sick."
"I'll be okay!" she dismissed his concerns with a sharp gesture. "I just need a minute."
She hoped she was telling the truth. She closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths to try and control the dizziness as well as the nausea that was now taking a hold of her stomach.
A if sensing her discomfort, Doom came to her and put his head in her lap, nuzzling her abdomen softly while emitting a purring sound. Chloe caressed his tick fur affectionately. Even in his hellish appearance, the hound's presence was strangely comforting.
Her friends mercifully gave her a moment to compose herself and soon, her malaises dissipated enough for her to feel almost normal. While she came back to herself, she took the opportunity to pray to Lucifer and let him know that she had sent him a demon to be questionned further. If someone could extract more information from him it was the Devil, according that he could find that demon and that he was in a position to do so... Chloe once more pushed aside her fear for Lucifer's wellbeing. The uncertainty about his situation was eating at her.
After she regained her senses, the four of them talked for a while about what they just learned and what could be done to insure Maze's safety on short terms. They were well aware that neither of them were safe from Lilith, but Maze seemed to be her primary target at the moment.
Back at the penthouse with Michael –Maze had reluctantly accepted to have Amenadiel stay at her place for the day while they would take a well-deserved nap following their night of hunting– Chloe found Trixie and Azrael sitting crossed-legs face to face in the middle of the living room with their eyes closed as if they were meditating. Not daring to disturb them during their session of... spirit walking, she went straight to the bathroom to spray some water over her face.
She thought she was still a bit pale when she looked at herself in the mirror. A growing headache had her search her pharmacy to try and find some pills that would lessen the pain, when her eyes fell on something in there that sent a cold shiver up her spine.
She made some quick calculations in her head only to freeze with a growing panic coursing through her. Her empty pack of birth control pills was resting there, stating without any ambiguity that she should have started her period three days ago. She was never late. NEVER! Yet, now she was...
From her calculations, she knew she had made love to Lucifer numerous times during her ovulation period. What if...?
NO! It couldn't be happening!
Chloe felt burning tears building up in her eyes. She had promised Lucifer that she would be careful, and she had been, never forgetting a single pill since they had started dating. So how could such a situation be possible?
As much as having Lucifer's child would be the most wonderful thing that could ever happen to her, he had made it very clear that such an event would only result into a painful heartbreak. God had never granted any Nephilim to survive more than a few years, oftentimes not even letting them reach birth. If she was pregnant with Lucifer's child, then its death was inevitable...
Half in shock, Chloe slowly lowered her eyes to look at her abdomen and put her hands lightly over it.
Was she only imagining that soft warmth emanating from her womb? She closed her eyes to focus more intently on the feeling.
There definitely was something unusual going on within her. The warmth slowly spread through her entire being to become a calming sensation that reminded her of what she'd felt when Lucifer had used his celestial power to suit her panic at the abbey when she'd thought that Beatrice had been killed.
In that instant, Chloe knew without the shadow of a doubt that her child was trying to comfort her...
Her gathering tears spilled out as if a den had been broken.
Bent over in a silent sobbing, Chloe cried in joy as much as in sorrow, for that child that would bring her as much happiness as angst.
She couldn't lose that child!
She couldn't lose the fruits of their love and possibly the last thing binding her to Lucifer.
She just couldn't!
Chloe fell on her knees and raised her eyes upwards to the sky above, even though she couldn't see it, and prayed, to a God that she despised for everything He had made Lucifer and herself go through. But in this moment, she hoped against hope that she had been wrong about Him and that there was some good in that omnipotent being.
"Please!" she cried out in supplication. "Don't take our child!"
Author's note: Did you see it coming? :) As I said, I was very partial to the idea of a child and have been struggling with it since I wrote chapter 15 of Stuck in Hell, but now it fits perfectly what I want to explore in this new story. If you don't remember why God don't allow Nephilim to live, I suggest that you read that particular chapter of Stuck in Hell once more to refresh your memory. Please, let me know your impression on this very special chapter. Thanks for reading and supporting me in this adventure.
