I do not own anything related to Lucifer, DC Comics, Vertigo, or Sandman series, either through television, written books, or film. Everything belongs to Tom Kapinos, Fox, and mentioned above. I do own all the created characters. I do not own any songs, or literature mentioned. They are included to enhance the written words. Please read, review, and enjoy!
Chapter Seventeen
…
Marcus Pierce's Residence, 3806 Ocean Front Walk, Marina Del Rey, California…
Inserting the key into the lock of the front door, Pierce sucked in deeply the salty ocean air as a distant boat horn sounded off in the wet darkness of the sea.
Pushing open the door with his boot, he allowed his bag to drop onto the floor as he laid his keys down on the carved piece of driftwood that he had fastened into a side table years ago. Reaching into his back-jean's pockets, he pulled out his and Miriam's mobile phones before running his thumb over the dark screen. Watching it come to light at the password screen, his eyes stared at Miriam's wide smile as she shared an embrace with her friend Dakota.
She looks happy
Happier than I've seen her
Setting both phones down on the driftwood, he left all the lights off as he slowly climbed the stairs to the second level.
But, have I ever seen her truly happy in the short time I've been watching her?
Hearing the growing hum of the refrigerator and the crashing waves of the ocean just outside the large glass sliding patio door, Pierce paused on the second to top stair before letting the palm of his right-hand hover over the collection of rocks that lined the wooden shelf. Allowing his fingertips to lightly graze over the dullness of the soft rounded edges, he picked up a specific stone and walked towards the patio, sliding open the door as the strong salty air stung at his exhausted face…
(Flashback)
Keeping his eyes firmly trained on Abel's back as the young man disappeared down the embankment to the river Gihon, Cain clenched his fists and took a menacing step forward before freezing.
What will I ask him that God won't tell me?
Would Abel know why God refuses to accept my offering? When all I have done is try to please him and live within his words and guidance?
Following in his brother's footsteps as he wiped at his sweaty brow, Cain kept low as he watched Abel lean down and scoop up handful after handful of water, splashing it against his sunburnt cheeks and thick beard. Coming to stand behind his brother as he watched his shadow settled, he flinched as Abel spoke.
"Brother? Is something troubling you?"
Watching Abel rising to his feet as he turned around, Cain clenched his fists at his sides before giving his brother a powerful push backwards. Hearing the loud splash as the young man flayed his arms out in the water, Cain stood defiantly at the edge of the water as he watched Abel coughing and choking on the warm river water.
"BROTHER!..."
Blinking quickly as the words of his dead brother screamed in his mind, Pierce glanced at the rock in his hand and angled his arm back, feeling the growing weight of his curse as he struggled to let it go sailing far off into the darkness.
"Talk to me God. TALK!"
Hearing nothing in response to his shout, the young man sighed before storming back inside the house, slamming the patio door shut behind him before replacing the rock back on the shelf.
You won't answer me when I threaten to toss the rock.
Will you ever speak to me again God?
…
345 E 1st Street, Apt 3, Little Tokyo, Los Angeles, California…
Standing in the middle of the foyer as her tired eyes stared into Lucifer's face, Miriam scowled as she watched him take a deep sip of his red wine.
"Did you have…an adventurous weekend?" the Devil questioned with a dark smirk as Dakota rose to her feet.
Shifting her eyes onto her best friend, she swore under her breath before stepping around her bag and into the kitchen. Ripping open the fridge door, she grabbed a glass bottle of Perrier water and slammed the door just as Lucifer smiled widely before batting his long dark eyelashes.
"I can just imagine the weekend you had, is the Lieutenant as strong as he looks?" he whispered, stepping quickly out of the way as Miriam narrowed her eyes while twisting off the bottle lid.
"Something I can help you with Mr. Morningstar?"
If he is hoping for any details, he is up shit creek
"Has he shown you?"
Has he shown me that he is the fictional Cain from the fictional Bible stories?
Wincing as she knew exactly what he was referring to, Miriam stepped aside and felt the growl in the back of her throat.
"Did I ask why, you are here? Standing in my apartment making yourself comfortable, drinking the last of my red wine?" she questioned as the well-dressed man turned around and motioned for Dakota to join him at his side.
"We, are on a date."
Spitting out her mouthful of water, her eyes went wide as she caught Lucifer's disdain and Dakota's hand sliding comfortably over his black blazered shoulder.
"A date? Dakota are you fucking kidding me?"
Slamming her bottle down on the counter, Miriam roughly grabbed her best friend's arm and half dragged her down the hallway towards her bedroom as she pushed open the door, kicking it shut behind them with her foot.
"Dakota, what the fuck is going on?"
Watching the small smile spreading across her friend's lips, it took every ounce of strength remaining in her exhausted body to not slap her friend into common sense.
"A bunch of us went out with Dana for her birthday while you were gone, and we went to LUX."
"And…"
"And….he bought me a drink."
That son of a bitch
He's showing interest in you Dakota to keep close to me
"You can't be serious Dakota. Didn't you once tell me that we are not the type of people welcomed in that kind of place?"
Shrugging her shoulders as a slight flush crossed over her cheeks, Dakota crossed her arms over her chest as she narrowed her eyes.
"And what about your Lieutenant, did he make it up to Fairfield? You're welcome for that by the way. Even though I was really drunk…I still managed to tell him where your family's farm was. He also makes quite the pretty picture laying back on your bed…"
Sighing as she shoved her hands into the pockets of her skinny jeans, Miriam took a step backwards and held a hand out towards her door.
"Don't say that I didn't try to warn you about Lucifer Morningstar."
"What, that he is the Devil? Or that he is rich?"
"I've heard that some people say that he is the Devil himself"
"You said it, not me."
…
One Hour Later…
Wiping the palm of her hand across the foggy bathroom mirror, Miriam glanced at her reflection as she leaned against the counter and touched a finger to the corner of her eye. Moving her eyes down to the side of her neck, she felt herself flushing as she touched lightly just below her earlobe, feeling her stomach tighten as she remembered the feel of Pierce's lips hard against her skin.
"Hmmm."
Tucking the towel up firmly around her chest, she wrapped a hand around the door handle and stilled as her ears picked up on two sets of footsteps and flirtatious giggles growing louder in the hallway. Rolling her eyes as she listened to muffled words before hearing Dakota's bedroom door slamming, she slowly pulled open the door and shivered as the cool air of the hallway washed over her bare shoulders. Crossing the corridor and into her bedroom, Miriam firmly pushed the door closed before grabbing her desk chair and shoving it up beneath the handle.
Paranoid much?
If Lucifer Morningstar wanted to get into your bedroom…
Letting the towel drop to the floor as she turned towards her closet, she pulled down a white t-shirt over her head before stepping into a pair of black cotton pajama shorts. Reaching for her bags, she pulled everything out and tossed the laundry into the far corner of the room before taking a seat on the edge of the single bed. Pulling out her toothbrush, toothpaste, and ELF mascara, Miriam tossed them aside near her pillow just as her eyes settled on a notebook buried deep in the bottom. Ripping it out, she fanned through the pages and caught Lucifer's handwriting as Pierce's voice spoke in her head…
"Than a broken bed frame?"
Jumping to her feet, the young girl strode with purpose across the floor boards of the bedroom, throwing open the door just as she halted in her steps, perking up her ears.
"No…."
Hearing the rhythmic thumping coming from across the hall, she threw her eyes onto the closed door of her best friend and felt the vomit in her throat as she imagined Dakota's wooden headboard moving against the wall. Biting down on her tongue until she tasted blood, Miriam slammed her bedroom door and grabbed her headphones, shoving the buds into her ears as she turned on her ipod.
Shuffling until she settled on Elliot Root, she cranked the volume high before searching her bag for her mobile phone.
"Shit…"
Marcus Pierce has my phone
"If I had your address Marcus, I'd be breaking the speed limit right now" she muttered, pushing the notebook off the edge of the bed as it fell onto the floor near the window. Switching her light off, she stripped naked and slipped in between the bedsheets, feeling the coolness against her skin as she drifted off to sleep.
…
Los Angeles Police Department, North Hollywood Division, 11640 Burbank Boulevard North Hollywood, CA…
10:19am
"Did I tell you on Friday that we are going to be going over firearms and trace analysis all this week?"
Nodding her head as Ella Lopez discarded a pair of blue surgical gloves in the trash, Miriam leaned back on her stool just as the office door flew open.
"Ella, are you still coming for drinks tomorrow?"
Hearing Chloe Decker's question as she focused her eyes on a young girl sitting at the Detective's desk, Miriam excused herself as she shoved her hands in her pant pockets.
"Trixie, right?"
Hearing her name, the young girl turned around and paused before a small smile spread across her lips.
"You don't have any chocolate cake on you, do you?" she asked, returning to the drawing in front of her.
Patting her stomach as she herself could go for a big piece of cake, Miriam shook her head as she glanced down at the child's drawing.
"What, are you drawing?"
"It's a Demon. I've met one, and though she looks just like a human, she can peel her face off and it's all gross underneath."
Now that, is an imagination
"I've never seen a Demon."
Glancing up sideways with a smirk, Trixie signed her name on the bottom of the page with a flourish as she leaned back in her mother's chair.
"Don't worry, you will."
"Tyler?"
Raising her eyes onto the face of the Lieutenant, Miriam held her breath as she watched him hold her phone between his fingers.
"You left this, in my office."
Reaching out, she took her phone and felt her fingers grazing his as he turned back towards his office.
"You like him, don't you?"
Setting her eyes on Trixie's toothy grin, Miriam shrugged her shoulders as the young girl folded her picture in half.
Imagination and perception
"Monkey, your dad is going to pick you up and take you to his house until Thursday, so make sure you grab both your bags that are under the desk" Decker spoke as she smiled at Miriam.
"Are you coming tomorrow as well? " she added as her eyes caught sight of Marcus Pierce exiting his office with his uniformed assistant trailing behind, trying to keep up.
"How awkward would it be if I asked the Lieutenant out?"
Blinking slowly as she watched Decker's eyes following Pierce's retreating back, Miriam sighed as she nodded her head, remembering the feeling of his strong arms lifting her up off the floor. Feeling her mouth going dry, she excused herself before rounding the corner of the bull pen towards the kitchen. Grabbing a bottle of water from the fridge, she watched the door shutting before making a beeline for the emergency exit that would lead her to the rooftop.
Pushing the door open as the heat of the morning hit her face, Miriam twisted the cap off the bottle and chucked it aside before taking a generous sip.
"I must say, your little roommate has quite an insatiable appetite in the bedroom."
Rolling her eyes as she downed the rest of the water in the bottle, Miriam closed her eyes as she breathed in the scent of his expensive cologne.
"Tell me something Lucifer Morningstar, are you sleeping with Dakota just to, follow me around?" she questioned, hearing his light chuckle as he came to stand beside her, gazing out at the distant city skyline.
"Is that what you want me to confess? Or do you wish to hear me say that it was you that I was imagining beneath me?"
…
345 E 1st Street, Apt 3, Little Tokyo, Los Angeles, California…
4:16pm
Setting her keys down on the kitchen counter, Miriam kicked her ballet flats off as she heard footsteps coming out of the bathroom.
Please say you are alone Dakota
"I didn't get a chance to ask last night, but how was your brother's funeral?"
Hearing Dakota's question as she caught her friend's curious glance, Miriam shrugged her shoulders as she thought of her brother's unheard voicemail.
"It was fine. Religious…"
"Are you really that pissed that Lucifer was here last night?"
Feeling her blood starting to boil as Dakota crossed her arms over her house coated chest, Miriam moved down the hallway and tried with all her might to not glance inside her roommate's bedroom at the tossed about sheets.
"You have no idea what you are getting yourself into with him."
Leaning against the inside of the bedroom door, Dakota narrowed her eyes as she opened her mouth to speak.
"If anything, my weekend with him was the best time I've spent with any guy, and I don't mean, just sexually" she added, catching Miriam's face growing pale.
"I work in close proximity with Lucifer Morningstar, and there is nothing….good about him." Shedding her dress shirt as she grabbed a black tank top, Miriam slipped it up over her arms and tugged it down before grabbing a pair of black footless tights. Keeping her mouth shut, she said nothing more as she grabbed a black long sleeve H&M top before putting her hair up into a high bun on the top of her head.
"So your Lieutenant did make an appearance?"
"He did."
"I see, and did you two…"
Ignoring Dakota's question as she moved to her desk, Miriam grabbed her notebook and tucked it beneath her arm.
"No, we didn't. And…thanks for the rhythmic noise by the way to make me feel nauseous all night."
Hearing Dakota's snicker from behind her back as she moved into the kitchen, Miriam grabbed her keys just as she noticed the blinking blue light on her phone, signaling a text message. Breathing in deeply as she rolled her thumb over the screen, she ignored the voicemail icon before bringing up the text.
3806 Ocean Front Walk, Marina Del Rey
Swallowing hard as she read the address, she glanced at the sender's name and felt her stomach flip.
M. Pierce
"Are you going to see your Lieutenant tonight?"
Darkening her phone screen as she tucked the device into the waist band of her leggings, Miriam raised her eyes and for once in her life, had nothing to say.
"Miriam, he obviously likes…no it's more than that. I may have been shit faced, but the look in his eyes when he sat on the edge of your bed…it's more than lust…"
"I was feeding the sheep. I turned around and he was there…leaning on the fence watching me. My father invited him in for dinner, and to stay the night as yet another storm rolled over Fairfield. I went to his room in the middle of the night and…"
"He didn't turn you away…"
"We kissed and we would have gone further but…."
Arching an eyebrow as she watched her friend trying to sort through the right words to use, Dakota took a step forward and laid a hand on her shoulder.
"But…"
"But, he heard the voice of God."
…
Marcus Pierce's Residence, 3806 Ocean Front Walk, Marina Del Rey
Turning the engine off to the Honda, Miriam sat in the driver's seat and glanced up at the ocean front beach house.
"Jesus…"
Opening her door, she closed her eyes and took in a deep breath of the salty night air before closing the door. Rounding the walkway towards the side of the house, she listened to her light footsteps just as she heard a door opening.
(Flashback)
"You didn't hear His voice?"
"Whose voice?"
Hearing her shaky words, he stared down into her face as he felt drops of rain falling from his chin.
"God's."
"Hi."
Hearing Pierce's voice from the lit doorway, Miriam reached out and lightly touched her fingertips against the white siding.
"You're right on the beach."
Smiling as he held the door open, Pierce tilted his head to welcome her inside as Miriam stepped over the threshold.
"Beautiful view at both sunrise and sunset."
"And I imagine the sounds of the ocean waves are a perfect lull for sleep."
Hearing her words as he closed the door, Pierce offered out a hand and lightly gripped her fingers before bringing the back of her palm up against his lips. Feeling her stomach sink as the man at her side ushered her towards the staircase that would take them up to the second level, Miriam halted in her steps as her eyes scanned over the numerous amounts of rocks.
"Childhood passion?"
Moving his eyes onto the shelves filled with rocks of all shapes and sizes, Pierce winced as he felt her hand lightly graze across the front of his white t-shirted chest.
"I've collected rocks my entire life. Every city that I have ever lived in I have taken a rock."
"Do you have a favorite?"
Shaking his head no, he watched as she spread her fingers over a set of rocks before taking up the very rock that had destroyed his life.
"Be…be careful with that one" he whispered in a low tone as Miriam rubbed the edge of her thumb along a smooth spot. Catching the man's eye as he stared hard without blinking, she held the rock as safe as an egg before looking it over.
"What made you choose to pick up that specific rock Miriam?"
Hearing Pierce's question as she rubbed the skin of her fingers against a small sharp edge, she flipped it over in her hands before raising her eyes onto his.
"It looks like just another other rock, but…I kinda don't want to let it go, for some reason" she replied, freezing as Pierce took a step forward, closing in the distance between them.
"This rock, brought about my downfall."
It was all he said as he came to stand directly in front of her.
Holding the rock out, she let it go between his fingers as she took a step backwards.
You know who he is Miriam, you know…
But why can't I believe it?
Watching Pierce moving past her, she watched as he placed the rock in the middle of the dining table just as she noticed a few lit candles. Walking across the floor, Miriam shifted her eyes as she heard the roar of ocean waves and felt her mouth falling open.
"Oh…wow!"
Moving towards the open patio window, she stepped out into the evening air and stood at the edge of the balcony, staring into the darkness of the water. Feeling Pierce's arm bumping against hers as he leaned his forearms on the railing, Miriam listened to the waves as he cleared his throat.
"The view and the access to the beach is why I bought this place."
"Must be a nice view with morning coffee" Miriam spoke absentmindedly as Pierce cleared his throat.
"Well, you can decide that, tomorrow morning."
Feeling the butterflies in her stomach with his words, she shifted her eyes as he rose to his full six-foot three height. Feeling his thumb grazing along her bottom lip, she stiffened as he leaned down and brushed his lips against hers. Feeling his lips lingering along hers, she felt his hands resting along her hips as she curled her fingers in the extra fabric of his t-shirt.
"Inside?"
"Yes, please." Breathing against his lips as she turned towards the open patio, she felt his hand dropping from her hip as she crossed the threshold. Turning back around as she lingered on the stubble along his chin, she narrowed her eyes as Pierce looked beyond her, his mouth falling open.
"Marcus? MARCUS!"
Watching him lunge towards her as she took a step backwards, she felt his hands roughly pushing her aside as she heard a hard thud inches from her face. Freezing as she caught a look of pain crossing Pierce's face, she heard a low grunt escaping from his lips before he fell to his knees in front of her clutching at a piece of black metal that protruded from his chest.
Feeling the scream catching in the back of her throat as she saw the blood soaking through the white fabric of his t-shirt, she fell onto the floor and slammed her hand down on his chest to try and stop the bleeding. Hearing another grunt leaving Pierce's throat, Miriam felt her breathing quickening as she felt her own chest tightening while trying to grab her mobile phone from her back pocket.
"I'm calling an ambulance….stay with me Marucs…please…" Watching the man reaching up and clasping his bloody hand down on hers, Miriam felt her eyes clouding over as the tears started to fall down her cheeks.
"My name is Miriam Tyler, I need an ambulance to 3806 Ocean Front Walk for a stab wound. He's bleeding out…" Letting the phone fall from her hand as she felt Pierce's hand sliding off her own, she held her breath as she watched his eyes go still.
No….
No…No….No…..
"Marcus….Marcus! Blink….BLINK!"
Pulling up his shirt, she stared, frozen at the sight of blood soaking through his white shirt and onto her hands as the dark metal knife stuck out of his chest. Wrapping her hand around the handle, she felt the heat of the knife against her skin as tears blurred her vision. Bringing her eyes up as she looked widely around the open kitchen and dining room, she spied no one as she bit her lip and started to pray silently.
God, please don't let him die…
Don't let him die…
Slamming her hand down hard on the wound, she felt the blood pooling around her fingers as she stared at the intricate carvings on the handle.
You can't take it out
Feeling a hand slamming down on hers as a scream ripped through her throat, Miriam tried to pull away as Pierce cried out with a mixture of irritation and pain. Gripping her bloody hand tightly with his own against his chest, he rolled over and coughed up a mouthful of blood before sitting up.
Scrambling backwards onto her knees as Pierce pressed both his hands over his chest wound, Miriam's eyes went wide as she literally watched the man who had been stabbed in front of her, rise from the dead. Moving his hand over the knife handle, he sucked in a deep breath as he quickly ripped it out of his chest before slamming it down on the floorboard, cursing a name she had heard once before in Lucifer Morningstar's elevator.
"Fucking…MAZIKEEN!"
Mazikeen?
"Pierce?"
Moving his eyes onto the seated woman, he grunted as he crawled over, keeping one hand on his chest wound as Miriam's face grew pale. Exhaling heavily as he brought a hand up against the side of her face, he ignored the smear of blood as he stared into her eyes.
"Miriam, I'm not dead."
Blinking slowly as she heard his words, Miriam lowered her eyes onto his bloody lips as she took a deep breath.
"I am immortal. A stab wound like that would kill any other human being. I will out live you, outpace you, out breath you, out love you," he whispered as he searched her blank eyes and face for any hint of a reaction.
"I am Cain, Miriam. I killed my brother Abel with the rock you held in your hands earlier" he spoke with a deep cough as the shuffling of high heeled boots scuffed across the floor behind them.
Throwing her eyes up over Pierce's shoulder, Miriam stared into the dark eyes of the woman she had met in the LUX elevator, watching as her long fingers spun around a second knife identical to the one that had been plunged into Pierce's chest minutes previous.
"Lucifer was tired of little Miss Lab Rat not being in the loop, so I took it upon myself to move you along…Cain" Maze spoke with a wide smile as she flipped him the finger.
"Have fun showing her your better side."
…
Please read, review, and enjoy!